Tag: Vatican

• Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:42 UTC

  Operation clean up to reform scandal–plagued Vatican administration

  

  Pope Francis, moving to overcome major crises in the Holy See, set up a special commission to reform its economic and administrative departments, the Vatican said on Friday.

• Friday, July 19th 2013 - 06:29 UTC

  Pope Francis wants direct contact with the crowds when he visits Brazil next week

  

  Pope Francis will not use bullet-proof ‘Pope-mobiles’ on his visit to Brazil next week to allow him more direct contact with crowds despite the security risks, according to a Vatican release.

• Saturday, July 13th 2013 - 15:57 UTC

  Francis sweeping reforms to Vatican legal system include from child abuse to money laundering

  

  Pope Francis is introducing changes to the Vatican legal system and has announced reforms on laws governing child abuse to penalties for staff who leak confidential information. The latest overhaul of the Holy See comes after years of scandals which have damaged the image of the Catholic Church.

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 16:02 UTC

  Francis names special commission to review activities of scandal-plagued Vatican bank

  

  Pope Francis has set up a special commission to review the activities of the scandal-plagued Vatican bank to ensure that it operated in “harmony” with the mission of the Catholic Church, the Vatican confirmed.

• Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 17:08 UTC

  Argentine indigenous people ask Francis to intercede before Cristina Fernandez

  

  Leaders of an Argentine indigenous community together with Nobel Peace Prize Adolfo Perez Esquivel met on Monday with Pope Francis and requested he intercedes before Argentine president Cristina Fernandez so that she receives a delegation from the Qom community.

• Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 06:14 UTC

  Francis sends strong message to the Curia and the Vatican high life

  

  A last-minute no-show by Pope Francis at a concert where he was to have been the guest of honor has sent another clear signal that he is going to do things his way and does not like the Vatican high life.

• Friday, June 21st 2013 - 06:26 UTC

  Falklands: “last thing we want is religion inserted in the dispute”

  

  A top Falkland Islands’ politician and Britain's UN envoy shrugged off the idea of the Pope intervening in the long-running sovereignty dispute over the Falklands/Malvinas and South Atlantic islands, as was suggested at one point by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.

• Monday, June 17th 2013 - 19:38 UTC

  Maduro meets Francis: agrees on ‘sincere’ dialogue with Venezuelan bishops’ conference

  

  Pope Francis on Monday received in a 20-minute audience President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro in the hall of the Vatican Apostolic Library. On arrival at the hall known as Sala del Tronetto, the Venezuelan president said it was “an honour” to meet the pope, adding that he was “very impressed” and “happy” to be there. He also thanked the Argentine pope “for everything you are doing”.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 18:04 UTC

  Uruguay’s president cancels last leg of European tour on medical advice

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica, 78, cancelled the last leg of his European visit, Italy, saying he was exhausted and suffering from jet-lag. He has been in the road since May 22, with a first official three-day visit to China, later to Spain, the Vatican and to Galicia and the Basque country, from where his family came.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 07:15 UTC

  Francis and Mujica full of praise for each other share 45 minutes in the Vatican

  

  “The Pope is very pleased for having met with a wise man”, was the official report from the Holy See following the 45 minute private audience of Francis with Uruguayan president Jose Mujica, the longest so far with a head of state. Although Mujica is a declared atheist and did not attend the inauguration of the first Latinamerican pope last March, he did request an interview with Francis, which took place on Saturday.