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A British-born computer whizz who died from leukaemia aged 15 has been placed on the path to sainthood during a beatification ceremony at a cathedral in Italy. Carlo Acutis, who was born in London in 1991 to Italian parents before moving as a child to Milan, was honoured with a ceremony at the Basilica of San Francesco … Read more
The Pope mingles with the crowd and kisses newly-ordained priest’s hand – all while not wearing a face mask – at Vatican event Pontiff has gone without mask at the first Wednesday general audiences since they resumed on September 2 The 83-year-old today kissed one of his brethren on the hand, chatted intimately with newlywed … Read more
Pope snubs Mike Pompeo as Vatican accuses Trump administration of trying to set up meeting to exploit Catholic Church before election The Vatican said Wednesday that it had denied a request from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for a meeting with Pope Francis It also accused the secretary of State of trying to drag the … Read more
Vatican cardinal resigns from his post amid £180m financial scandal following purchase of London apartment block using Church funds Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s resignation was accepted by Pope Francis on Thursday He renounced his rights as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Mr Becciu was implicated in scandal involving Vatican’s investment in property … Read more
Pope Francis tells parents of LGBT children that ‘God loves them as they are’ Pope Francis reassures the parents of LGBT children that God loves them Parents of LGBT children felt that some religious figures would not accept them The Pope met a group seeking greater acceptance from the church to LGBT people They gave … Read more
Pope Francis removes his mask as he touches worshippers and vows to defeat coronavirus with love at a ‘limited’ public audience at the Vatican as he steps up his return to normal duties Pope was all smiles as he shook hands and touched foreheads on Wednesday The 83-year-old removed his mask as he arrived at … Read more
The Pope says Covid-19 pandemic shows how the Earth can recover ‘if we allow it to rest’ and adopt simpler lives Pope Francis said in a written message the Earth can recover if we let it rest The Pontiff urged people to adopt simpler lifestyles to help our ‘groaning’ planet He also called for the … Read more
Pope Francis has urged world leaders to only give coronavirus bailouts to companies which protect the environment and help the needy. The 83-year-old pontiff said the pandemic has laid bare inequalities in the world, and it would be a ‘scandal’ if leaders missed the opportunity to fix them. As countries race to return to ‘normal’, … Read more
Pope Francis praises UN Security Council campaign for ceasefires in wars across the globe to help in fight against Covid-19 Pope Francis praised the UN Security Council efforts for worldwide ceasefires to help tackle the pandemic He called for the prompt implementation ‘for the good of the so many persons who are suffering’ Security Council resolution … Read more
An exiled billionaire has accused the Chinese government of giving the Vatican £1.6billion every year in bribes to prevent it from criticising Beijing’s sweeping clampdown on religions. Fugitive tycoon Guo Wengui claimed in a podcast that the Communist Party had been paying the Holy See generously since 2014 because Beijing ‘wanted the Vatican to shut … Read more