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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Vatican backs devotion at Bosnian shrine where Virgin Mary 'appeared'

The Vatican did not rule that the accounts that children and teenagers saw Mary in the village of Međugorje in 1981 were authentic, but it said that the spiritual experience of visiting the shrine justified pilgrimages there.

Timor-Leste

Pope calls for protection of young people during visit to Timor-Leste

It is an indirect acknowledgment of the abuse scandal involving Nobel Peace Prize-winning independence hero, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo.

Timor-Leste

Pope Francis lands in Timor-Leste for his Asia trip's third leg

About 98% of its 1.3 million people are Catholic, making it the most Catholic country outside the Vatican.

Green News

Pope interrupted by activists calling for an end to bullfighting

The animal rights organisation says 10,000s of bulls are killed annually in bullfighting dedicated to Catholic saints.

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Ukraine

Ukraine war latest: Kyiv seeking 'common ground' with China

While Ukraine's foreign minister met his Chinese counterpart, President Zelenskyy spoke to the Vatican's secretary of state before lauding Ukraine's missile programme.

Culture news

Have archaeologists uncovered a pre-Vatican papal palace?

Experts say the architectural structure – where popes lived before the Vatican became the official residence – could have been built between the 9th-13th century AD.

Art

Inside the Vatican’s eye-opening pavilion at the Venice Biennale

The exhibition, With my eyes, has sight and perception at its heart and controversially transforms the Vatican pavilion from a women's jail into a gallery.

Green News

Pope: Vatican City will run solely on solar power thanks to new plant

A letter entitled ‘Brother Sun’ laid out the pontiff’s plans.

Culture news

Pope Francis meets more than 100 comedians at the Vatican

“In the midst of so much gloomy news, immersed as we are in many social and even personal emergencies, you have the power to spread peace and smiles,” Francis told the comedians.

World News

Pope clears way for online influencer to become saint

Carlos Acutis - who died in 2006 at the age of 15 - earned the nickname of "God's influencer" by spreading the teachings of the Catholic church online.

Art

Feet painted on façade of multi-storey chapel celebrated by Vatican

Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan is known for shocking crowds with his tongue-in-cheek installations and bombastic structures, but he has painted something a little more down-to-earth for one of the art world's most anticipated events, the 2024 Venice Biennale: a pair of feet.

World News

Vatican calls gender-affirming surgery violations of human dignity

The Vatican's new doctrine put both gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy on par with abortion and euthanasia.

Vatican

Pope Francis calls for ceasefire in Gaza during Easter Sunday Mass

Despite health concerns, the pontiff led the service in front of tens of thousands of people who had gathered in St Peter's Square in Vatican City.

Vatican

Holy Easter Saturday celebrated across Europe

Pope Francis presides over the Vatican's Easter Vigil, as Germany's Easter peace marches call for end of war in Ukraine and Gaza.

Vatican

Pope's message read by aide as he recovers from illness

Pope Francis said on Saturday he has not yet fully recovered from a recent illness, and had a Vatican official read out his message to patients of the Vatican-owned Rome children's hospital Bambino Gesù.

Vatican

Pope Francis to release new memoir

The Pontiff has stated that he has no intention of resigning and says he has no health issues that would force him to step down.

Art

Pancaked Popes & bananas: The Vatican's choice for the Venice Biennale

An infamous Italian artist will create an outdoor installation for the Vatican’s exhibition, held in a women’s prison on the island of Giudecca. Pope Francis will visit the pavilion in April, marking the first papal attendance at the Venice Biennale.

Vatican

Pope Francis: Ukraine should have courage of the 'white flag'

In an interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI, Pope Francis said in the face of defeat, Ukraine should consider sitting at a table with Russia to carry out peace talks and negotiate an end to the war.

Vatican

Spanish bishop rebukes priests for hoping Pope 'goes to heaven soon'

Priests from Toledo were chastised for a comment made earlier this month about praying for Pope Francis "so that he can go to heaven as soon as possible."

Vatican

Woman asks Pope Francis to make Father Rupnik sex abuse case public

One of the first women who accused a once-exalted Jesuit artist of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuse went public Wednesday to demand transparency from the Vatican and a full accounting of the hierarchs who covered for him for 30 years.