Pope Francis on Monday morning “humbly” asked six clerical sex abuse victims for forgiveness for the “grave crimes of clerical sex abuse” committed against them. The Pope made his comment to the victims in a homily delivered at mass in the Domus Santa Marta, his Vatican residence.
Vatican officials are becoming increasingly irritated with the Argentine government after its ambassador to Britain, who is a vocal critic of the UK policy regarding the Falkland Islands, requested a private audience with the Argentine born pontiff, reports a piece by Edward Pentin, published by Newsmax.com.
Pope Francis sacked on Thursday the five-man board of the Vatican's financial watchdog, all Italians, in the latest move to break with an old guard associated with a murky past under his predecessor.
Pope Francis said on Monday that the celibacy of priests is not a matter of Church dogma, while defending its value amid calls among some Catholics for the requirement to be dropped.
President Cristina Fernández, CFK, addressed on Sunday the crowd which had gathered in the historic Buenos Aires Plaza de Mayo to mark the anniversary of Argentina's May Revolution, calling on those present to remember all the people who helped create an independent nation.
Pope Francis inserted himself directly into the collapsed Middle East peace process on Sunday, issuing an invitation to host the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a prayer summit meeting at his apartment in the Vatican.
A UN watchdog urged the Vatican on Friday to live up to Pope Francis' vow to stamp out child sex abuse by priests, calling on the Church to ensure violators face justice. Three weeks after grilling the Vatican at a public hearing, the UN Committee Against Torture said the Roman Catholic Church had made progress, but said there are still failings of major concern.
Argentina's Secretary to the Presidency Oscar Parrilli said on Friday that the letter sent to President Cristina Fernandez and which caused a controversy with local Church officials, is authentic. Argentine ambassador to the Vatican Juan Pablo Cafiero was contacted by Pope Francis to confirm the situation.
One of the Pope's closest collaborator, Argentine Monsignor Guillermo Karcher has affirmed that the alleged letter from Pope Francis to President Cristina Fernández revealed earlier on Thursday by the government is a fake.
Vatican administrators need a change of mentality and must ensure that the Holy See's finances are efficient, transparent and primarily aimed at helping the most needy, Pope Francis said on Friday.