Faith

A woman on a boat talks with a friend in the evening in Valletta, Malta, in this March 25, 2010, file photo. The Vatican announced that Pope Francis will visit the island nation of Malta April 2-3, 2022.

Vatican confirms Pope Francis to visit Malta in April 2022

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis will visit Malta April 2-3, a Vatican spokesman said.

Pope Benedict XVI is pictured during his final general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this Feb. 27, 2013, file photo. The retired pope released a statement Feb. 8 concerning the recent report on abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, where he served as archbishop from 1977-1982.

Benedict asks forgiveness in response to Munich abuse report

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VATICAN CITY -- At the age of 94, retired Pope Benedict XVI said he knows he will soon stand before God's judgment and he prayed that he would be forgiven for his shortcomings, including in handling allegations of clerical sexual abuse.

Pope Benedict XVI gives Communion to a young man during Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London in this Sept. 18, 2010, file photo. During the service the pope expressed his "deep sorrow" to the victims of clerical sexual abuse, saying these crimes have caused immense suffering and feelings of "shame and humiliation" throughout the church.

Vatican editorial defends Benedict XVI after release of abuse report

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VATICAN CITY -- A Vatican editorial defended retired Pope Benedict XVI's record in fighting clerical sexual abuse after the release of a report that accused him of mishandling four cases during his time as archbishop of Munich.

People in the Kayah state of Myanmar attend Catholic Mass in the Htaykho village in this 2015 file photo.

Vatican pays tribute to 22 church workers murdered in 2021

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VATICAN CITY -- In situations of extreme poverty, war or civil tensions, 22 Catholic church workers were murdered in 2021, according to Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, left, Cardinal Michael Czerny and Salesian Sister Alessandra Smerilli are seen in this composite photo. Pope Francis accepted Cardinal Turkson's resignation as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development Dec. 23, 2021, and has asked Cardinal Michael Czerny and Salesian Sister Alessandra Smerilli to oversee the dicastery until a new prefect is named.

Pope Francis names Cardinal Czerny interim head of dicastery

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VATICAN CITY -- Thanking Cardinal Peter Turkson for his five years of service as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Pope Francis has decided to name new leadership for the office, said a Vatican communique.

Pope Francis greets people as he leaves an ecumenical prayer with migrants in the Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia, Cyprus, Dec. 3, 2021.

Vatican announces Pope Francis will bring migrants from Cyprus to Italy

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NICOSIA, Cyprus -- After Pope Francis denounced putting up "barbed wire" to keep out migrants and the practice of pushing boats back to countries where they face conditions similar to a "lager," the Vatican announced he would help move a dozen migrants from Cyprus to Italy before Christmas.

Judges Giuseppe Pignatone and Carlo Bonzano preside at the third session of the trial of six defendants accused of financial crimes, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, at the Vatican City State criminal court Nov. 17, 2021. Lawyers representing the defendants argued that Vatican prosecutors omitted evidence and testimony they said are crucial in preparing their defense.

At Vatican trial, lawyers accuse prosecution of withholding evidence

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VATICAN CITY -- Lawyers representing six defendants, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, on charges of financial crimes accused Vatican prosecutors of omitting evidence and testimony they said are crucial in preparing their defense.

Pope Francis greets Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian member of the U.S.-based Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, at the Vatican Dec. 3, 2015. The pope has named Sister Petrini to be secretary-general of the office governing Vatican City State.

Pope Francis names religious sister secretary-general of Vatican City State governing office

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian member of the U.S.-based Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, to be secretary-general of the office governing Vatican City State.

Norbertine Father P. Bernard Ardura, president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, speaks during a news conference at the Vatican Oct. 26, 2021. The Vatican announced a conference Oct. 27-29 of historians and experts studying the history of the church in the first centuries of Christianity.

Vatican conference convenes experts to study early Christian history

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VATICAN CITY -- A Vatican conference will gather both Christian and non-Christian historians and experts to delve deep into the history of the church in the first centuries of Christianity.

Pope Francis has named Msgr. Diego Giovanni Ravelli to be the new master of papal liturgical ceremonies. He is pictured during the pope's celebration of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this March 28, 2021, file photo.

Pope Francis appoints new master of papal liturgical ceremonies

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named Msgr. Diego Giovanni Ravelli, who has served as an official of the papal almoner's office since 2013, as the new master of papal liturgical ceremonies, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Sept. 29, 2021. Pope Francis will not be attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in November; Cardinal Pietro Parolin will head the Vatican delegation.

Pope Francis will not attend climate summit in Glasgow

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis will not be going to the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, as he had hoped.

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