Italy
For this group of trans women, the pope and his message of inclusivity are a welcome change
By Trisha Thomas and Nicole Winfield — November 21, 2023
TORVAIANICA, Italy (AP) — For the marginalized trans community of Torvaianica, it was just the latest gesture of inclusion from a pope who has made reaching out to the LGBTQ+ community a hallmark of his papacy.
Pope unveils Vatican Christmas tree, urging Christians to ‘stay rooted’ in Jesus
By Claire Giangravé — December 5, 2022
(RNS) — With its humility, the nativity scene is a reminder to step away from a 'consumeristic and commercial' Christmas, the pope said.
Pope visits immigrant father’s hometown for birthday party
By Associated Press — November 21, 2022
PORTACOMARO, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis made a rare personal getaway Saturday to his father’s birthplace in northern Italy for the first time since ascending the papacy to celebrate the 90th birthday of a family member.
Italy church says 600 sex abuse cases sent to Vatican
By Nicole Winfield — November 18, 2022
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Italy’s Catholic bishops provided their first accounting of clergy sexual abuse and revealed Thursday that more than 600 cases from Italy were on file at the Vatican since 2000.
Gritty cult director Ferrara gets religion in ‘Padre Pio’
By Nicole Winfield — August 26, 2022
(AP) – Director Abel Ferrara's new project starring Shia LaBeouf pays homage to Padre Pio, the mystic Capuchin monk best known for having displayed the “stigmata” wounds of Christ.
Climate protesters target the Vatican’s Laocoon statue
By Associated Press — August 19, 2022
ROME (AP) — The protesters are demanding the Italian government increase its solar and wind power and stop exploring for natural gas and reopening old coal mines in Italy.
Pope Francis meets transgender guests of Rome church
By Nicole Winfield — August 11, 2022
(AP) – Pope Francis welcomed another group of transgender people who found shelter at a Rome church on Wednesday, in a move that church leaders said "brought their guests hope."
US rabbi reviving Jewish roots in her family’s Italian town
By Frances D'emilio — July 20, 2022
SERRASTRETTA, Italy (AP) — Ordained at the Rabbinical Seminary International in New York, she served at a synagogue in Florida for a few years before moving to Italy, where she first worked as a rabbi in Milan from 2004-2005.
Time’s up for Catholic Church in Italy to reckon with clerical abuse, survivor group says
By Claire Giangravé — February 22, 2022
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Italian activists fighting sexual abuse by Catholic clergy decry the 'conspiracy of silence' between the Italian church and state.
In Catholic Italy, ‘de-baptism’ is gaining popularity
By Sara Badilini — November 16, 2021
(RNS) — Though data is sparse, the church and Italian atheists agree that the 2-decade-old process is becoming more common.
France returns marble angels stolen from Italy church in ’89
By Associated Press — October 19, 2021
Italy’s art police said Tuesday that the angels, decorated with strategically placed vine of leaves and fruit, had been stolen from the St. Sebastian church in Guardia Sanframondi, northeast of Naples, on Dec. 13, 1989.
Merkel meets pope and receives farewell tribute from Draghi
By Associated Press — October 7, 2021
Merkel herself has called this her farewell bilateral trip to Italy as chancellor, and her unusually long 45-minute papal audience and glowing tribute from Draghi indicated her Roman counterparts wanted to pay their respects, too.
Dubai’s Expo opens, bringing first world’s fair to Mideast
By Isabel Debre and Aya Batrawy — October 1, 2021
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — After eight years of planning and billions of dollars in spending, the Middle East’s first world’s fair opened Friday in Dubai, with hopes that the months-long extravaganza will draw both visitors and global attention to this desert-turned-dreamscape. The coronavirus pandemic pushed Expo 2020 back a year and may affect […]
Pope Francis and Mario Draghi could become a powerful duo in shaping Europe’s future
By Claire Giangravé — April 8, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The two have a long history and have partnered together in the past. But as Draghi assumes his new role over the Italian government, the relationship faces obstacles. Mainly: Vatican financial scandals and its relationship with China.
Church faces backlash for showing Mass at a cinema, as Italy faces severe lockdown
By Claire Giangravé — April 7, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The case highlights growing tensions between Italians and the Catholic Church, which critics say has been granted more leeway while the weary peninsula faces another severe lockdown more than a year into the pandemic.
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