Pope Francis pays tribute to Prince Philip in telegram to the Queen

Pope Francis today paid tribute to Prince Philip and praised him for his ‘distinguished record’ of public service and his devotion to his marriage and family. The leader of the Catholic Church said he was ‘saddened’ to learn of Prince Philip’s death on Friday at the age of 99 and offered his ‘heartfelt condolences’ to Her Majesty … Read more

Pope Francis leads Easter prayers in the Vatican as world celebrates Good Friday

Pope Francis led prayers to celebrate Easter as thousands of pilgrims packed Jerusalem to mark Good Friday after Covid restrictions were eased following the success of Israel’s vaccine roll-out. In Latin America, penitents from Mexico and Guatemala to Paraguay carried tree branches covered with thorns and large crosses in Passion Plays reenacting the crucifixion of … Read more

Covid lockdown: Millions of Christians mark Palm Sunday as Pope Francis leads mass at Vatican

Millions of Christians across the world today marked a second Palm Sunday during the pandemic as Pope Francis warned ‘the Devil is taking advantage of the crisis to sow distrust, desperation and discord’.  The pontiff traditionally leads a Palm Sunday procession through St Peter’s Square in front of tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists clutching … Read more

Pope orders pay cuts for cardinals and clerics as Covid-19 pandemic hits Vatican finances

Pope Francis has ordered cardinals to take a pay cut and reduced the salaries of most other Vatican clerics as the coronavirus pandemic hits the Holy See’s income. Francis issued a decree introducing the proportional cuts starting on April 1, the Vatican said on Wednesday.  The pontiff has often insisted that he does not want … Read more

Former president of Ireland had to ask the Pope to apologise for ‘sexist’ comment

Former Irish president Mary McAleese says she made Pope John Paul II apologise for ‘sexism’ after he asked her husband if he’d prefer to be in charge of the country instead of married to the leader Mary McAleese took part in Focus Ireland’s International Women’s Day event Former president of Ireland reflected on the first … Read more

Pope Francis leaves Iraq after successful first-ever papal visit to the country

Pope Francis leaves Iraq after successful first-ever papal visit to the country Francis and his entourage were waved off by Iraq’s president at Baghdad airport He will fly back to Rome after covering more than 900 miles on his four-day trip  The 84-year-old pontiff urged Iraqis to embrace diversity and reject extremism  By Tim Stickings … Read more

Pope Francis holds historic meeting with powerful Shia Islam cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistan

Pope Francis today held a historic meeting with the top Shia Islam cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on day two of his landmark visit to Iraq. The 84-year-old, who defied security fears and the pandemic to become the first pontiff to travel to the Gulf, met with the Grand Ayatollah in Najaf as his four-day trip … Read more

Pope Francis visits Iraq: Pontiff calls for ‘end to violence and extremism’ on historic visit

Pope Francis made a rousing call for peace on the first day of his historic visit to war-battered Iraq today, pleading with his hosts for an ‘end to acts of violence and extremism, factions and intolerance’.  The 84-year-old, who defied security fears and the pandemic to become the first pontiff to travel to Iraq, urged … Read more

The Pope departs from Rome for historic first-ever visit by a pontiff to Iraq

The Pope departs from Rome for historic first-ever visit by a pontiff to Iraq – and his most dangerous foreign journey since his election By Reuters and Chris Pleasance for MailOnline Published: 07:11 GMT, 5 March 2021 | Updated: 07:11 GMT, 5 March 2021 Pope Francis left Rome on Friday to start a four-day trip … Read more

African Catholic cardinal who branded migration ‘a form of slavery’ resigns after clashing with Pope

Pope removes conservative African cardinal who warned Islam would ‘invade the world’ after clash with Vatican Robert Sarah was a favourite among conservatives in the Catholic Church  Some even hoped he could have succeeded Pope Francis as Pontiff eventually He frequently clashed with Pope Francis and resigned in accordance with law  By Matt Drake For … Read more