Faith

Pope Francis was hospitalized July 4 for previously scheduled colon surgery, the Vatican press office said. He is pictured at the Vatican June 9, 2021.

Pope Francis out of bed, walking after surgery at Rome hospital

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VATICAN CITY -- The second morning after undergoing colon surgery, Pope Francis was continuing to recover well and, after a restful night, he had breakfast, read the newspapers and got out of bed to walk, the Vatican press office said July 6.

Pope Francis shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during an audience at the Vatican June 28, 2021.

Pope Francis, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken meet at Vatican

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VATICAN CITY -- Climate change, migration and geopolitical hot spots were on the agenda as Pope Francis met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken June 28.

A priest holds the Eucharist as he celebrates a private Mass at a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this Oct. 8, 2011, file photo. The new archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, has reaffirmed the principles that led the Vatican to severely limit private celebrations of Mass in the basilica in the early morning, but said exceptions would be made for "groups with particular and legitimate needs."

Cardinal keeps limits on private Masses in St. Peter's, allows exceptions

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VATICAN CITY -- Reaffirming the principles that led the Vatican to severely limit private celebrations of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the early morning, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the new archpriest of the basilica, said exceptions would be made for "groups with particular and legitimate needs."

Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, right, and other leaders of the synod participate in an online meeting from the Vatican June 15, 2021. The meeting was held with presidents and officials of bishops' conferences around the world in preparation for launching the new synod process in October.

Secretariat begins discussing new synod process with bishops

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VATICAN CITY -- After issuing revised guidelines for preparing for the next world Synod of Bishops, leaders of the synod's general secretariat held online meetings with the presidents and general secretaries of national and regional bishops' conferences.

Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, then-apostolic nuncio to Australia, poses for a photo with Pope Francis at the Vatican in this April 9, 2015, file photo. The pope has named Archbishop Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Pope Francis names new envoy to Israel, Palestine

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named Archbishop Adolfo Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaks as he attends the World Health Assembly amid the coronavirus pandemic in Geneva May 24, 2021. The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in WHO as a non-member state observer.

Holy See receives permanent observer status at the WHO

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VATICAN CITY -- The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in the World Health Organization as a nonmember state observer.

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, attends a press conference to discuss revisions to the Code of Canon Law, at the Vatican June 1, 2021. Pope Francis has promulgated a revised section of the Code of Canon Law dealing with crimes and punishments.

Pope Francis promulgates revised canon law on crimes, punishments

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VATICAN CITY -- A series of laws and procedures promulgated by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI and, especially, by Pope Francis to protect children, promote the investigation of allegations of clerical sexual abuse and punish offenders are included in a heavily revised section of the Code of Canon Law.

Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, is pictured with Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the same congregation, as they pray with U.S. bishops at the start of a meeting at the Vatican in this Jan. 14, 2020, file photo. The Vatican announced May 27 that Pope Francis has appointed the English archbishop to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, succeeding Cardinal Sarah.

Pope Francis names English archbishop to lead worship congregation

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named English Archbishop Arthur Roche to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, the Vatican said.

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, center, and bishops from around the world walk in procession from St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican in this Oct. 7, 2019, file photo. Pope Francis has approved a revision of the process for the celebrations of the Synod of Bishops, emphasizing the need to expand reflections and consultations on a diocesan level.

Vatican revises synod process, beginning with local consultation

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VATICAN CITY -- Approving the revision of the entire process of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis has asked that it begin with serious, widespread consultations with laypeople on the diocesan level.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former secretary of St. John Paul II, prays at the spot of the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt against the Polish pope, after placing flowers in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 13, 2021. Cardinal Dziwisz and a small group of Catholics gathered in the square to mark the 40th anniversary of the shooting. In 1981 then-Msgr. Dziwisz cradled the Pope after the shooting.

Polish pilgrims mark anniversary of attempt to assassinate St. John Paul

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VATICAN CITY - An elderly man stood alone in St. Peter's Square May 13, using his wooden rosary beads to pray by a simple plaque marking the place where St. John Paul II was shot exactly 40 years earlier.

This Oct. 14, 2020, file photo shows the Vatican City State criminal court during the opening of the trial of Father Gabriele Martinelli and Msgr. Enrico Radice. Father Martinelli is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a younger student at the Vatican's St. Pius X Pre-Seminary. Msgr. Enrico Radice, former rector of the seminary, has been accused of obstructing the investigation into the younger priest. Defendants in the court are normally seated on the bench at right.

Former students testify at Vatican trial on abuse in minor seminary

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VATICAN CITY - Four former students at the minor seminary located in the Vatican testified May 12 at the ongoing trial of Father Gabriele Martinelli, who is accused of sexually abusing a younger student at the St. Pius X Pre-Seminary.

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