Pope Francis

Nuns alleging abuse by former Jesuit Marko Rupnik plead with Francis for investigation

By Claire Giangravé — February 21, 2024

(RNS) — Disgraced Jesuit and famed artist Marko Rupnik is accused of abusing 20 of the 41 women in the religious community he founded.

Ex-Catholics in Rome reconnect with roots, spirituality in paganism

By Claire Giangravé — February 21, 2024

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As Romans search for alternatives to Catholicism, some have turned to Jupiter, Minerva and Juno.

Despite reforms, victims say church’s in-house processes to handle sex abuse cases retraumatizes

By Nicole Winfield — February 21, 2024

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Despite new church laws to hold bishops accountable and promises to do better, the Catholic Church’s in-house legal system and pastoral response to victims has proven incapable of dealing with the problem.

The Vatican’s problematic process to address clergy sex abuse cases, explained

By Nicole Winfield — February 20, 2024

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Five years ago this week, Francis convened an unprecedented summit of bishops from around the world to impress on them that clergy abuse was a global problem and they needed to address it.

The keeper of the Vatican’s secrets is retiring. Here’s what he wants you to know

By Nicole Winfield — February 19, 2024

VATICAN CITY (AP) — In a new book-length interview titled “Secretum” to be published Tuesday, Pagano divulges some of the unknown, lesser-known and behind-the-scenes details of well-known sagas of the Holy See and its relations with the outside world over the past 12 centuries.

St. Valentine’s hometown strikes a balance between Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day

By Claire Giangravé — February 14, 2024

TERNI, Italy (RNS) — The hometown of the saint of love found a compromise between Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday.

Sex is ‘divine’: How Pope Francis is recasting Catholic Church’s views on intimacy

By Claire Giangravé — February 12, 2024

(RNS) — A book on sexuality by the Vatican’s doctrinal chief may have raised eyebrows, but Pope Francis has long been calling for the church to offer more robust teaching on sex.

Pope and Argentine President Milei embrace after pontiff canonizes Argentina’s first female saint

By Nicole Winfield, Gianfranco Stara, and Alessandra Tarantino — February 12, 2024

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Mama Antula was an 18th century laywoman who ministered to the poor and helped keep Jesuit spirituality alive in Argentina after the religious order — to which the pope belongs — was suppressed.

Celebration of lay Catholics of Sant’Egidio highlights group’s growing influence

By Claire Giangravé — February 9, 2024

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Members of the lay movement have been handpicked by Pope Francis to aid him at the Vatican.

First Argentine saint brings Pope Francis and Milei together

By Claire Giangravé — February 8, 2024

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The right-wing President Javier Milei, who has called Pope Francis an ‘imbecile’ in the past, will meet the pope on Monday.

The Synod on Synodality called for better liturgy. Will anyone listen?

By Thomas Reese — February 6, 2024

(RNS) — If the church is to have a Eucharistic revival, its liturgical texts should promote active participation by all people.

Antisemitism is a sin against God, Pope Francis says, as hate crimes surge

By Claire Giangravé — February 5, 2024

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a letter addressed to Jews in Israel, Pope Francis called for an end to the violence and war in the Holy Land.

Street artist of ‘Super Pope’ fame gets new stamp of Vatican approval

By Nicole Winfield — February 1, 2024

ROME (AP) — Street artist Maupal, whose cartoon-like depictions of Pope Francis as a “Super Pope” have graced buildings around the Vatican for a decade, got an official stamp of approval on Thursday when he appeared at a Vatican news conference.

Pope names 3 Chinese bishops in a week and reorganizes diocese under a controversial 2018 accord

By Associated Press — January 31, 2024

ROME (AP) — The Vatican said all nominations took place “within the framework” of the 2018 Vatican-China accord.

Pope Francis congratulates Italy after tennis player Jannik Sinner wins the Australian Open