Faith

A visitor wears a mask for protection from the coronavirus while touring the Vatican Museums Feb. 2, 2020. The Vatican has announced that museums and necropolis tours will be closed to the public from Nov. 5-Dec. 3 as Italy faces increased COVID-19 cases and restrictions.

Vatican shuts down museums as COVID-19 cases, deaths mount in Italy

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VATICAN CITY -- As COVID-19-related deaths in Italy reached their highest daily level since early May and Italy began enacting new restrictions to slow the spread, the Vatican decided it will once again close its museums to the public.

Bishop Nunzio Galantino, now president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, is pictured with Pope Francis during the pope's visit to Cassano allo Ionio, Italy, in this June 21, 2014, file photo. In an Oct. 31 interview with the newspaper Avvenire, Bishop Galantino said investments by the Vatican's Secretariat of State are now under tighter control.

Investments by Secretariat of State now under tighter control, says bishop

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VATICAN CITY -- A lack of oversight and control over the Vatican Secretariat of State's investment activities may have facilitated some bad property deals, said Bishop Nunzio Galantino, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See.

The Vatican City State criminal court is seen Oct. 14, 2020, during the opening of the trial of two Italian priests accused of sexual abuse at a minor seminary inside the Vatican. Father Gabriele Martinelli, 28, was accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a younger student at the seminary and Msgr. Enrico Radice, 71, former rector of the seminary, was accused of obstructing the investigation into younger priest.

Vatican court continues trial on alleged abuse at minor seminary

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VATICAN CITY -- At a criminal trial involving alleged sexual abuse at a minor seminary located in the Vatican, the Vatican City State criminal court accepted a motion to allow the alleged victim to seek damages from the seminary and the religious institution that runs it.

Women are pictured in a file photo praying on All Souls' Day, Nov. 2, at a cemetery in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic response measures restrict most gatherings, the Vatican has extended the usual plenary indulgence to souls in purgatory from just the first week in November to include the entire month.

Vatican extends time to obtain full indulgences for souls in purgatory

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VATICAN CITY -- Plenary or full indulgences traditionally obtained during the first week of November for the souls of the faithful in purgatory can now be gained throughout the entire month of November, the Vatican said.

A well-wisher is pictured in a file photo kissing the ring of Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin following his episcopal ordination at St. Ignatius Cathedral in Shanghai. The Vatican and China have agreed to extend provisional agreement signed two years ago regarding the appointment of bishops.

Vatican extends provisional agreement with China on naming bishops

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VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican and the Chinese government will extend an agreement signed in 2018 regarding the appointment of bishops.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu speaks with journalists during a news conference in Rome Sept. 25 after being asked by Pope Francis Sept. 24 to resign as prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes.

Becciu denies interfering in Pell trial

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ROME -- Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu denied having interfered in any way with the trial of Cardinal George Pell after Italian media reported an allegation that Becciu might have wired money to Australia as a bribe during Pell’s trial.

Pope Francis greets a Swiss Guard as he returns to his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, after a service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this Oct. 24, 2013, file photo. The Vatican announced Oct. 17 that a resident of the Domus Sanctae Marthae tested positive for COVID-19.

Vatican reports positive coronavirus case at pope's residence

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VATICAN CITY -- A resident at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the residence where Pope Francis lives, tested positive for COVID-19, the Vatican announced.

Leaders of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples hold a news conference at the Vatican Oct. 16, 2020. The topic was World Mission Sunday, which will be observed Oct. 18. Pictured from left are Oblate Father Tadeusz J. Nowak, secretary-general of the pontifical mission societies; Archbishop Giampietro Dal Toso, adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; and Cristiane Murray, vice director of the Vatican Press Office.

World Mission Sunday isn't canceled because of COVID-19, officials say

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VATICAN CITY - The collection taken up in parishes around the globe on World Mission Sunday is "as unique as it is rare" because offerings are made by Catholics in the richest and poorest nations, a Vatican official said.

A Swiss Guard is seen as Vatican photographer Simone Risoluti works during Pope Francis' general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Oct. 7, 2020. The weekend of Oct. 10-11, four Swiss Guards were found to have COVID-19 and are symptomatic, the Vatican confirmed Oct. 12.

Swiss Guards report additional cases of COVID-19 among ranks

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VATICAN CITY - The Swiss Guard reported an additional seven men have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the current number of cases among the 113 guardsmen to 11.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu speaks with journalists during a news conference in Rome Sept. 25, 2020, after he was asked by Pope Francis to resign as prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes. Cecilia Marogna, a political analyst allegedly hired as a security consultant by Cardinal Becciu, was arrested Oct. 13 by Italian authorities in Milan, media reported.

Analyst linked to Cardinal Becciu is arrested

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VATICAN CITY - A political analyst allegedly hired as a security consultant by Cardinal Angelo Becciu was arrested by Italian authorities in Milan, Italian media reported.

Giuseppe Pignatone, president of the Vatican City State criminal court, speaks during the opening of the trial of two Italian priests accused of sexual abuse at a minor seminary inside the Vatican, in this still image taken from video at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2020. Father Gabriele Martinelli, 28, was accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a younger student at the seminary and Msgr. Enrico Radice, 71, former rector of the minor seminary, was accused of obstructing the investigation into Father Martinelli.

Vatican criminal trial begins against priests accused in abuse case

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VATICAN CITY - Dressed in a black polo shirt with a sweater draped around his shoulders, Father Gabriele Martinelli, 28, heard a Vatican criminal court accuse him of repeatedly sexually abusing a younger student at a minor seminary inside the Vatican.

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