Pope Francis

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Pope Mentions Sex Abuse for First Time

He also meets with Netanyahu

(Newser) - Pope Francis made direct mention of the Catholic Church's problems with sexual abuse today, asking bishops from the Netherlands to "continue supporting" victims "on their painful path to healing." It's the first time he's publicly addressed the issue, according to the National Catholic Reporter...

Vatican's New Bogeyman: Capitalism, Not Communism

Pope Francis' condemnation of trickle-down theory is a shift: Essayist

(Newser) - Pope Francis' blistering attack yesterday on the "tyranny" of unchecked capitalism in general and trickle-down economics in particular marks a fundamental shift in church thinking, writes Emma Green at the Atlantic . A half-century ago, the church largely condemned communism and embraced democracy, along with its underlying free-market system. The...

Pope Francis Issues a New 'Thou Shalt Not'

He writes that we must say no 'to an economy of exclusion and inequality'

(Newser) - Pope Francis is a published author of a major work for the first time under that name, having issued his first apostolic exhortation. The topic: money. The 224-page document rails against unfettered capitalism as "a new tyranny," and had this to say: "How can it be that...

Pope Francis' Guest Today: Vladimir Putin

Pontiff will try to sway Russian president on Syria

(Newser) - Can Pope Francis melt the heart of Vladimir Putin? We're about to find out, as the popular new pontiff makes his first real foray into global politics today, hosting the Russian president at the Vatican. In a closed-door meeting, Francis intends to press Putin on what Russia can do...

Vatican Displays Bone Fragments Said to Be St. Peter's

For first time, pieces of bone are exhibited in public

(Newser) - The Vatican publicly unveiled a handful of bone fragments purportedly belonging to St. Peter today, reviving the scientific debate and tantalizing mystery over whether the relics found in a shoe box truly belong to the first pope. The nine pieces of bone sat nestled like rings in a jewel box...

Pope Francis: I'm a Pharmacist, Prayer Is My Drug

Pontiff gives out rosaries in pill boxes, says 'good for the heart'

(Newser) - Joking that he's like a pharmacist, Pope Francis is promoting prayer as medicine for the heart. Appearing today at his studio window, Francis held up a rosary in a box designed to resemble a packets of pills, before volunteers distributed thousands of those boxes, which feature a design of...

Italian Mafia's New Target: Pope Francis?

Mobsters 'nervous and agitated' by pontiff's anti-corruption stance, prosecutor says

(Newser) - Pope Francis' anti-corruption stance could put him at risk from "the most dangerous, most unified, and most difficult to penetrate" mafia clan in Italy, an Italian prosecutor tells the Washington Post . As "Pope Francis is dismantling centers of economic power in the Vatican," mobsters are "nervous...

Pope Wants Your Thoughts on Gay Marriage

Vatican sends bishops questions on contraception, divorce

(Newser) - The Vatican has issued a request to national bishops' conferences worldwide ahead of a synod next year: Tell us what your region thinks about contraception, divorce, same-sex marriage, and other social issues. The National Catholic Reporter calls the questionnaire a "wide-ranging poll of Catholics," though the Vatican has...

NSA Spied on Vatican as Pope Was Chosen: Report

Church 'not worried' about Italian magazine piece

(Newser) - Among the NSA's apparently unending surveillance targets, according to an Italian magazine report, was one Jorge Mario Bergoglio—the current Pope Francis. Panorama says Bergoglio and other cardinals were subjects of US spying ahead of the conclave that made him pope , AFP notes. "It is feared that the...

Pope Expels &#39;Luxury Bishop&#39;
 Pope Expels 'Luxury Bishop' 
Oct 23, 2013 2:09 PM CDT

Pope Expels 'Luxury Bishop'

Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst temporarily expelled from diocese

(Newser) - Pope Francis temporarily expelled a German bishop from his diocese today because of a scandal over a $42 million project to build a new residence complex , but he refused popular calls to remove him. The Vatican didn't say how long Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst would spend away from the...

Bishop in Trouble for $42M House

Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst dubbed 'Luxury Bishop'

(Newser) - A German bishop has been called to the principal's office after his exorbitant spending. Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst—or the "Luxury Bishop" as the BBC calls him—is under fire for spending $42 million on his house and then lying about it. Some have called for him to resign....

Vatican Misspells Jesus —on 6K Medals

FYI Vatican officials, it's Jesus, not Lesus

(Newser) - You'd think if anyone was going to misspell the name of God's son, it wouldn't be the Vatican. But some 6,000 gold, silver, and bronze medals to commemorate Pope Francis have been recalled after a misspelling in a Latin phrase turned Jesus into Lesus, der Spiegel ...

Francis Kicks Off Vatican Reform, Disses 'Narcissists'

Meetings with 8 cardinals seek to reform institution

(Newser) - Pope Francis isn't mincing words today as he kicks off the first of three days of meetings aimed squarely at reforming the Vatican. The pontiff is meeting with eight cardinals from across the globe, even as he addressed his concerns in an interview with leftist newspaper La Repubblica. Many...

In 7 Months, It'll Be 'Saint John Paul II'

John XXIII also set for sainthood in first double canonization

(Newser) - It's official: Pope John Paul II will be declared a saint on April 27, 2014—as will Pope John XXIII, pontiff from 1958-1963, in the Catholic Church's first-ever double canonization. Pope Francis, who will lead the ceremony, announced the date at a meeting with cardinals today, the AP...

Pope: Church Should Accept Gays 'With Respect'

Says Vatican has been 'small-minded,' can't be 'obsessed'

(Newser) - More unexpected comments about homosexuality from Pope Francis: In a new interview with a Jesuit journal, he says the church cannot "interfere spiritually" in the lives of gays and lesbians, CNN reports. He's gotten letters from gays and lesbians who felt "socially wounded" by the church, "...

Pope's No. 2: Priest Celibacy Not Set in Stone

Says it's up for discussion, though it is an important tradition

(Newser) - While Pope Francis is off puttering around in a second-hand car , his soon-to-be secretary of state has been doing something even more controversial: talking about priestly celibacy. When he was asked about it by a Venezuelan newspaper, Archbishop Pietro Parolin said the matter was open to discussion. "Celibacy is...

Pope's New Ride: Car With 186K Miles

It's a 1984 Renault

(Newser) - Pope Francis' new car almost certainly lacks that fresh-from-the-dealer scent: It's pushing 30 years old and has already covered 186,000 miles. Catholic News Service explains that a 69-year-old Italian priest on Saturday gave his white four-door 1984 Renault to the pontiff. In an Aug. 10 phone call between...

100K Throng Vatican for Francis' Syria Vigil

'War is always a defeat for humanity,' pope says during 4-hour vigil

(Newser) - Tens of thousands filled St. Peter's Square for a four-hour Syria peace vigil late yesterday, answering Pope Francis' call for a grassroots cry for peace that was echoed by Christians and non-Christians alike in Syria and vigils around the world. The Vatican estimated about 100,000 took part in...

Emotional Francis on Syria: 'War Brings on War!

Says he's 'deeply wounded,' calls for day of fasting

(Newser) - Pope Francis abandoned his normal Sunday themes today, and instead spoke emotionally and at length about Syria, calling for a day of fasting and prayer for peace. "My heart is deeply wounded by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments," he said, as per...

Pope Calls Woman Who Wrote to Him of Rape

Francis tells follower in Argentina that her letter moved him

(Newser) - Pope Francis' informal style extends to personal phone calls he makes to strangers, as an Argentina woman found out first-hand. Alejandra Pereyra says she was home knitting on Sunday when the phone rang, recounts Time . "It's Pope Francis," said her caller. "With an angelic voice, he...

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