Vatican News

Report: Vatican seeks 8-year jail sentence for ex-Vatican bank president

CNA Staff, Dec 7, 2020 / 08:00 am (CNA).- The Vatican’s Promoter of Justice is seeking an eight-year jail term for a former president of the Institute for Religious Works, according to Italian media reports.

The HuffPost said Dec. 5 that Alessandro Diddi had requested the sentence for Angelo Caloia, the 81-year-old ex-president of the institute commonly known as the “Vatican bank”, for money laundering and self-laundering, and embezzlement.

Pope Francis will travel to Iraq in 2021

Vatican City, Dec 7, 2020 / 05:55 am (CNA).- The Vatican announced Monday that Pope Francis will travel to Iraq in March 2021. He will be the first pope to ever visit the country, which is still recovering from the devastation inflicted by the Islamic State.

The four-day papal trip to Iraq March 5-8 will include stops in Baghdad, Erbil and Mosul. It will be the pope’s first international trip in over a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis: Ask God for the gift of conversion in Advent

Vatican City, Dec 6, 2020 / 06:40 am (CNA).- We should ask God for the gift of conversion this Advent, Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Sunday.

Speaking from a window overlooking a rainswept St. Peter’s Square Dec. 6, the pope described Advent as an “itinerary of conversion.”

Pope Francis approves overhaul of Vatican’s financial watchdog

Vatican City, Dec 5, 2020 / 07:35 am (CNA).- Pope Francis approved Saturday sweeping changes to the Vatican’s financial watchdog authority.

The Holy See press office announced Dec. 5 that the pope had ratified new statutes for the Financial Intelligence Authority, renaming the agency created by Benedict XVI in 2010 to oversee Vatican financial transactions.

New Vatican guide for bishops addresses common challenges to Christian unity

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2020 / 09:40 am (CNA).- The Vatican published Friday a guide with suggestions for Catholic bishops to promote unity with other Christian communities, offering practical advice for how to overcome common challenges to ecumenism.

Benedict XVI has not lost his voice, says Archbishop Gänswein

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2020 / 07:05 am (CNA).- Archbishop Georg Gänswein has denied media reports that Benedict XVI has lost his voice.

The Austrian Catholic news agency Kathpress reported Dec. 4 that Benedict XVI’s personal secretary had confirmed that the 93-year-old pope emeritus was still able to speak clearly.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast at age of 76

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2020 / 05:30 am (CNA).- Pope Francis accepted Friday the resignation of 76-year-old Canadian Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J.

The pope confirmed Dec. 4 that Archbishop Marcel Damphousse, 57, would succeed Prendergast as archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall, an archdiocese in Ontario formed in May this year.

Pope Francis establishes worldwide prayer network as Vatican body

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- Pope Francis has established the global network that promotes his monthly prayer intentions as a Vatican body.

Analysis: Is there a road back for Cardinal Becciu?

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 3, 2020 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- Two months since his fall from grace, Cardinal Angelo Becciu remains in the news, and out of any future papal conclave.

And despite the disgraced cardinal’s attempts to fight his way back to credibility, there seems little prospect of a return to favor for Becciu, who is now effectively a cardinal-in-name-only.

Pope Francis: Disabled people must have access to the sacraments, Catholic parish life

Vatican City, Dec 3, 2020 / 06:05 am (CNA).- People with disabilities must have access to the sacraments and, as missionary disciples, the ability to be full and active participants in the life of their Catholic parish, Pope Francis said Thursday.

Retreat House Bandra