Vatican News

Pope Francis appoints first lay head of Roman Curia’s disciplinary commission

Vatican City, Jan 8, 2021 / 05:20 am (CNA).- Pope Francis appointed on Friday the first lay head of the Roman Curia’s disciplinary commission.

The Holy See press office announced on Jan. 8 that the pope had named Vincenzo Buonomo, rector of the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, as president of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia.

Buonomo succeeds the Italian Bishop Giorgio Corbellini, who served in the role from 2010 until his death on Nov. 13, 2019.

After Secretariat of State shakeup, what’s next for Curia reform?

Vatican City, Jan 7, 2021 / 03:33 pm (CNA).- The draft of the delayed document that will reform of the Roman Curia gives the Vatican’s Secretariat of State a more prominent place in the workings of the Church's central governing bureaucracy. But during the year 2020, Pope Francis moved in the opposite direction.

In fact, within the span of a few months, the Secretariat of State has been gradually divested of all of its financial power.

New Swiss Guard recruits arrive in Rome to complete basic training

Vatican City, Jan 7, 2021 / 01:00 pm (CNA).- Fifteen new Swiss Guard recruits have arrived in Rome to complete their basic training.

The recruits for the world’s oldest standing army -- having already completed required military training in Switzerland -- will now spend the next two months at the Vatican preparing for their duty to protect the pope and the Apostolic Palace.

Australia’s financial crime watchdog conducts ‘detailed review’ of Vatican transfers

Vatican City, Jan 7, 2021 / 12:00 pm (CNA).- Australia’s financial crime watchdog said Thursday that it is conducting a “detailed review” of Vatican-linked transfers worth $1.8 billion.

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), a government agency, said Jan. 7 that it was seeking to shed light on the mystery transfers in cooperation with the Vatican.

Pope Francis calls for peace in Central African Republic after disputed election

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2021 / 06:35 am (CNA).- Pope Francis called Wednesday for peace in the Central African Republic following a disputed election.

In his Angelus address on Jan. 6, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the pope expressed concern about the turmoil following a Dec. 27 vote to elect the country’s president and National Assembly. 

Pope Francis at Epiphany Mass: ‘If we do not worship God, we will worship idols’

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2021 / 04:45 am (CNA).- As he celebrated Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Wednesday, Pope Francis urged Catholics to devote more time to worshiping God.

Preaching in St. Peter’s Basilica Jan. 6, the pope said that worshiping the Lord was not easy and required spiritual maturity.

The College of Cardinals in 2021: Who could vote in a future papal conclave

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2021 / 03:01 am (CNA).- As of the first month of 2021, the College of Cardinals is composed of 229 members, 128 of whom are under the age of 80, and therefore eligible to vote for the next pope in a future conclave.

It was St. Paul VI who established, on Nov. 20, 1970, that cardinals aged 80 and over could not participate in the process for electing a pope.

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