VATICAN CITY (AP) — Four conservative cardinals who publicly questioned Pope Francis’ opening to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics are pressing their case and arguing that the issue is dividing the Catholic Church. In a new letter, the cardinals ask Francis for an audience, noting he never responded to their written request for clarification in … Continue reading
VATICAN CITY (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel says Pope Francis encouraged her to work to preserve the historic Paris climate accord despite the U.S. withdrawal from it and shared her goal to “bring down walls” between countries, not build them. Merkel and Francis met for about 40 minutes Saturday in the Apostolic Palace, focusing … Continue reading
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is showing his profound concern for refugees by assuming direct responsibility for migrant issues in a new Vatican department that merges four Vatican offices into one handling peace, the environment and human trafficking issues. The Vatican issued the statutes Wednesday for the new Vatican dicastery, which puts the pontifical … Continue reading
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A Vatican monsignor said Tuesday he never felt threatened by two journalists to whom he passed confidential documents — but did fear the colleague who introduced them. Monsignor Angelo Lucio Vallejo Balda, a former high-ranking official in the Vatican’s finance office, made the concession during cross-examination Tuesday in the Vatican’s leaks … Continue reading
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The former papal envoy to the Dominican Republic, who went on trial at the Holy See this summer for alleged sexual abuse of minors, died of a heart attack, according to initial autopsy results, the Vatican said Saturday. A Vatican statement indicated that laboratory results, expected in coming days, could elaborate … Continue reading
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Oscar-winning Italian composer Ennio Morricone this week will premiere a Mass he composed to mark the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the Jesuit order and named for its most illustrious member, Pope Francis. The Jesuits said in a statement that the 86-year-old Morricone will conduct “Missa Papae Francisci” on Wednesday … Continue reading
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican sought Wednesday to defuse a diplomatic tiff with Mexico after Pope Francis referred to the possible “Mexicanization” of his native Argentina from drug trafficking, the latest instance of Francis’ casual speaking style getting him into trouble. The Vatican said it had sent an official diplomatic note to Mexico’s … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 