In a possible first, a public conversation has been held at the centre of the Church’s hierarchy on the limits of women’s participation in Church structures. An event called Voices of Faith, held to mark International Women’s Day last week, was put together as an opportunity for women to share their stories of faith. The Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Vatican’
Deceased homeless man buried in Vatican cemetery
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015A recently deceased homeless man who used to beg near St Peter’s Basilica has been buried within the Vatican alongside the graves of bishops and princes. A German-speaking family paid for the remains of Willy Herteller to be laid to rest in the Vatican’s medieval Teutonic Cemetery. Herteller, who died aged 80 in December, was Read more
Cardinal Mafi returns home to celebrating Tonga
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015
Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi returned to Tonga on February 26 after what he described as a “humbling” experience in Rome. The Tongan cardinal was given his red hat by Pope Francis at the Vatican on February 14. On his arrival back in Tonga, Cardinal Mafi said he had not been given any permanent role Read more
Simpler family survey released ahead of synod
Friday, February 27th, 2015An easy-to-complete survey on family life has been produced in the United States as an alternative to an unwieldy official Vatican survey. The surveys come ahead of October’s synod on the family. The concise survey has been produced by Strong Catholic Families, a group made up of four organisations which minister to families and youth. Read more
Cardinal questions revelation of Vatican asset figures
Tuesday, February 24th, 2015
The cardinal who heads the Vatican’s economic oversight body has questioned the releasing of Vatican asset figures to the media by Cardinal George Pell. Earlier this month, Cardinal Pell, who is prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, told media the Vatican had US$1.5 billion in assets that had not been previously accounted for. German Read more
Interview: Cardinal’s doubts about Vatican reform
Tuesday, February 17th, 2015
A US cardinal said he has some unanswered questions about the practicality of proposed reforms in the Roman Curia, the Vatican’s main administrative bureaucracy, although he praised efforts to clean up Vatican finances and to combat clergy sexual abuse. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, also told Crux in a wide-ranging interview on Saturday that Read more
Transgender man has private meeting with Pope Francis
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
A transgender man from Spain, described by a priest as the devil’s daughter, has had a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. According to reports in a Spanish newspaper, Diego Neria Lejarraga and his fiancé met Pope Francis at the Pope’s residence on January 24. Mr Neria, 48, wrote to Pope Francis last year, Read more
Rome’s homeless to get free haircuts at Vatican
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015The homeless of Rome will soon be able to get a free haircut at the Vatican. Space has been set aside for a barber service within in a facility featuring showers and bathrooms for the homeless. Construction of the facility in public restrooms on St Peter’s Square began in November. “Our primary concern is to Read more
China grateful Pope did not meet Dalai Lama
Friday, December 19th, 2014China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang expressed his appreciation for Pope Francis’ decision not to meet with the Dalai Lama. Qin said Monday that China had “noticed” the Holy See’s attitude. China is always sincere about improving relations with Vatican, Qin said. “China will continue to hold constructive dialogue with the Holy See,” Qin said, Read more