Tag: Pope Francis

• Friday, October 4th 2019 - 09:49 UTC

  Pope looking into options to recruiting more priests in the Amazon region

  

  A shortage of Catholic priests in the Amazon is eroding the church's influence in the remote region, bishops in Brazil and Peru warn, ahead of a Vatican synod dedicated to the rainforest. Wilmar Santin, one of the scores of Brazilian bishops set to attend the Oct 6-27 gathering, says the church is ceding ground to more nimble Evangelical rivals and needs to lift its game.

• Tuesday, September 17th 2019 - 09:55 UTC

  Image of Virgin of Lujan taken to Falklands during the war to be returned at ceremony blessed by the Pope

  

  An image of Argentina's saint patron, the Virgin of Lujan, which was carried to the Falklands during the 1982 conflict, and remained unaccounted for during years, will be returned by the United Kingdom. In retribution, the Argentine military bishop will hand a replica of the image to the head of British military chaplains in a ceremony to take place next month in the Vatican with Pope Francis blessing the images.

• Wednesday, September 11th 2019 - 09:15 UTC

  Pope Francis challenges ultra conservative cardinals: “I'm not afraid of schims”

  

  Pope Francis said on Tuesday he was “not afraid” of a schism in the Roman Catholic Church, in reference to attacks by conservative cardinals who frequently take aim at his papacy.

• Monday, September 2nd 2019 - 08:39 UTC

  Francis stamps his legacy: names 13 new “progressive on social issues” cardinals

  

  Pope Francis appointed 13 new cardinals in a surprise move on Sunday, again putting his stamp on the future of a Church he wants to be more open as most of those named are considered progressive on social issues.

• Monday, September 2nd 2019 - 08:30 UTC

  Good humored Pope has Vatican google “how to get out of a stuck elevator”

  

  Pope Francis said on Sunday he was late to his weekly Angelus prayer because he had been stuck in a Vatican elevator and had to be freed by firemen. He followed the tale of his rescue with a surprise announcement about the creation of 13 new cardinals of the Catholic Church - including 10 possible future popes.

• Monday, August 26th 2019 - 17:48 UTC

  Pope Francis calls for the protection of “the lung of forests vital for our planet”

  

  Pope Francis on Sunday called for a global commitment to put out the fires in the Amazon, saying the area was essential for the health of the planet. “We are all worried about the vast fires that have developed in the Amazon. Let us pray so that, with the commitment of all, they can be put out soon.”

• Tuesday, August 20th 2019 - 18:14 UTC

  Pope Francis expected to make an official visit to Thailand in November

  

  Pope Francis is expected to make an official trip to Thailand in November ahead of an already announced visit to Japan, becoming the first pontiff in nearly four decades to go to either country, Vatican sources say. The three sources said the trip would be announced soon.

• Tuesday, August 20th 2019 - 07:40 UTC

  Francis involvement in Argentine politics, is “an idea belonging to science fiction”

  

  A bishop had denied point-blank any involvement of Pope Francis in Argentine politics, following on August 11 presidential primaries, which have quashed President Mauricio Macri's reelection aspirations, increasing opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez chances of taking office next 10 December, while Latin America's third economy was driven into financial chaos as the word default creeps intensely as a possibility in the near future.

• Wednesday, July 31st 2019 - 18:40 UTC

  Chilean Jesuits' equiry unveils unspeakable acts by Father Renato Poblete

  

  The Chilean branch of the Jesuit order Tuesday released the findings of an investigation into Father Renato Poblete's alleged involvement in sexual misconduct. According to this enquiry, Poblete carried out improper acts “repeatedly, seriously and systematically.”

• Friday, July 12th 2019 - 11:41 UTC

  Sex crimes against children no longer protected by statute of limitations in Chile

  

  Chile's President Sebastian Pinera Thursday signed into law on Thursday a bill whereby the statute of limitations on sex crimes involving children ceases to apply. However, the new law is not retroactive as some lawmakers intended during parliamentary deliberation.