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February 5, 2016

Pope, Russian Orthodox patriarch to meet in Cuba, Vatican announces

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill reads a payer during the Christmas service Jan. 7 at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. After almost three decades of tense Catholic-Russian Orthodox relations, Pope Francis will meet Patriarch Kirill Feb. 12 in Cuba, en route to Mexico.

VATICAN CITY - After almost three decades of tense Catholic-Russian Orthodox relations, Pope Francis will meet Patriarch Kirill of Moscow Feb. 12 in Cuba on the Pope's way to Mexico.

Published in Vatican
November 20, 2015

Vatican monitoring situation in Central Africa, but Pope still plans to visit

A French peacekeeping soldier patrols the streets of Bangui, Central African Republic, in 2013. The Vatican is monitoring the situation in Central Africa, but Pope Francis still plans to visit.

VATICAN CITY - Despite the ongoing violence in the Central Africa Republic, Pope Francis wants to visit the country Nov. 29-30, plans for the visit are in place, and the security situation is being monitored, the Vatican spokesman said.

Published in Vatican
October 21, 2015

Claims Pope has tumour 'entirely unfounded'

Claims Pope has tumour 'entirely unfounded'

VATICAN CITY - Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said an Italian newspaper's claims about the Pope's health were "entirely unfounded."

Published in Vatican
September 20, 2015

Pope visits Fidel Castro before formal meeting with Cuba's president

Pope Francis waves to people as he passes a billboard showing images of Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro and Cuban independence hero Jose Marti Sept. 19 in Havana.

HAVANA - Although it was not part of his formal program, Pope Francis took time after Sunday Mass to visit Cuba's ailing former leader, Fidel Castro.

Published in Vatican
April 26, 2015

Pope's Cuba visit expected to boost Church's role there

A man rides a bicycle taxi with several national flags on it along a street in late March in Havana. Pope Francis will visit Cuba in September before his trip to the United States.

TLALNEPANTLA, Mexico - The president of the Latin American bishops' conference called Pope Francis' planned visit to Cuba an opportunity for the Church to play a larger role in a country experiencing reforms and re-embracing institutionalized religion.

Published in International
April 24, 2015

Italians arrest suspected terrorists; Vatican says no current threat

An Italian police bomb disposal vehicle is parked outside the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican in Rome Dec. 29, 2010.

VATICAN CITY - Italian police arrested at least nine people in what officials described as a terrorist cell that had planned, in 2010, to strike at the Vatican with a suicide bomber.

Published in Vatican