Vatican News

Pope's exhortation on Amazon synod to come out next week

Vatican City, Feb 7, 2020 / 05:46 am (CNA).- Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the Amazon region will be published Feb. 12, the Vatican announced Friday.

The document, which follows October’s Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, is highly anticipated for how the pope will respond to the recommendation to allow the ordination of married men to the priesthood for ministry in the region.

Legionaries of Christ elect new superior general

Vatican City, Feb 6, 2020 / 08:51 pm (CNA).- During its general chapter meeting in Rome, the Legionaries of Christ religious order has elected a new superior general to lead the embattled religious congregation.

Fr. John Connor, LC, has been the North American territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ since 2014. He will serve a six-year term as superior general of the religious order of priests.

Parolin: On McCarrick report release, Pope Francis has 'final word'

Vatican City, Feb 6, 2020 / 12:20 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis will make the final decision on when to publish a highly-anticipated report on former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Thursday.

“I think that [the report] will come out soon, I cannot tell you exactly when,” Parolin told a small group of journalists Feb. 6.

What Pope Francis told Tim Tebow

Vatican City, Feb 6, 2020 / 10:37 am (CNA).- He is a Heisman Trophy winner, a two-time college football champion, a sports broadcaster, and one of the most watched players ever to play professional football, even while his career was short-lived. At 32, he is also a minor-league baseball player, taking the field with almost no chance of a big league career, and against players ten years younger than him, solely for love of the game.

Pope Francis to financial leaders: Ending poverty is our duty

Vatican City, Feb 5, 2020 / 03:12 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis called on global financial leaders and economists to end economic inequality Wednesday, saying that modern resources make ending global poverty possible - and a responsibility.

“A rich world and a vibrant economy can and should end poverty,” Pope Francis said Feb. 5.

At 'Night to Shine,' Tim Tebow brings the prom to Rome

Vatican City, Feb 5, 2020 / 11:31 am (CNA).- What most Italians know about proms, they learned from watching American sitcoms or dubbed-over versions of 90210. The "prom" is a uniquely American event. Still, Italians flocked to a prom in Rome Tuesday night - this one held for people with special needs, and organized by minor league baseball player Tim Tebow.

Pope Francis: Poverty of spirit does not hide shortcomings from the world

Vatican City, Feb 5, 2020 / 09:20 am (CNA).- Pope Francis said Wednesday that a focus on achieving fame or having a perfect image in the eyes of the world denies God’s call to poverty of spirit and is a tiring and lonely endeavor.

The “poor in spirit” referenced by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount are not those who lack economic means, but those “who are and feel poor, beggars, in the depths of their being,” the pope explained Feb. 5.

Vatican has 'no information' on Gänswein leave of absence report

Vatican City, Feb 5, 2020 / 08:10 am (CNA).- After a German Catholic weekly reported that Archbishop Georg Gänswein was asked to take a leave of absence from his position as head of the papal household, the Vatican has said it cannot confirm the report, and the archbishop is still in his job.

Pope Francis met woman who grabbed him New Year's Eve

Vatican City, Feb 5, 2020 / 04:50 am (CNA).- Pope Francis in January met and shook hands with the woman at whom he lost his patience after being grabbed in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 31.

After his general audience Jan. 8, Pope Francis spoke briefly with the woman. In photos the two can be seen smiling at each other as they shake hands. A priest standing near the woman appears to be acting as interpreter.

One year after declaration on fraternity, pope calls for end to terrorism

Vatican City, Feb 4, 2020 / 10:03 am (CNA).- Pope Francis Tuesday marked the first anniversary of the joint signing of the Abu Dhabi document on human fraternity with a video message urging an end to extremism and terrorism.

The pope called the signing a “great humanitarian event,” adding that he hopes “for a better future for humanity, a future free from hatred, rancor, extremism and terrorism, in which the values of peace, love, and fraternity prevail.”

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