‘Stunning blow’:Push to elevate role of women in Catholic Church fails

‘Stunning blow’:Push to elevate role of women in Catholic Church fails

A gathering of senior Catholic leaders descended into disarray over the role of women in the Church and whether female deacons should be allowed.

  • byMatthew Knott

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Following Benedict:Pope pledges to step down if his health fails

Following Benedict:Pope pledges to step down if his health fails

Francis has called a surprise meeting of cardinals at an unusual time of the year,but he maintains that speculation about a looming resignation is just gossip.

  • byAlvise Armellini
Pope criticises Russia over cruelty but says war ‘perhaps provoked’

Pope criticises Russia over cruelty but says war ‘perhaps provoked’

Francis said that several months before the invasion,he met with a head of state who expressed concern that NATO’s moves towards Russia could lead to war.

  • byPhilip Pullella
Vatican airs dirty laundry in trial over London property

Vatican airs dirty laundry in trial over London property

Testimony so far has provided plenty of insights into how the Vatican operates,with a cast of characters worthy of a Dan Brown thriller.

  • byNicole Winfield
Pope decries ‘senseless’ war in Ukraine,raises fear of nuclear conflict

Pope decries ‘senseless’ war in Ukraine,raises fear of nuclear conflict

“Please,please,let us not get used to war,” Francis told a 50,000-strong crowd who gathered at the Vatican for the first public Easter address since 2019.

  • byRob Harris
Pope apologises to indigenous Canadians for abuse at schools

Pope apologises to indigenous Canadians for abuse at schools

The Roman Catholic Church had sought to erase indigenous cultures at its residential schools. Many children suffered abuse and were buried in unmarked graves.

  • byPhilip Pullella
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Pope gives fathers working at Vatican three-day paternity leave

Pope gives fathers working at Vatican three-day paternity leave

The paltry Vatican policy for dads drew criticism on social media,with one person saying it was only enough time needed to learn how to properly install a car seat.

  • byNicole Winfield
Pope says having pets instead of babies is selfish

Pope says having pets instead of babies is selfish

Pontiff provokes anger by saying the world is losing the richness of parenthood as couples remain childless.

  • byNick Squires
Violence against women an insult to God,says Pope Francis in New Year message

Violence against women an insult to God,says Pope Francis in New Year message

In his New Year’s wishes to the world,Pope Francis encouraged people on Saturday to focus on the good which unites them and decried violence against women.

  • byPhilip Pullella
US President Joe Biden meets Pope Francis as abortion debate flares at home

US President Joe Biden meets Pope Francis as abortion debate flares at home

The President,who goes to weekly Mass and keeps a picture of the Pope behind his desk in the Oval Office,has said he is personally opposed to abortion but cannot impose his views as an elected leader.

  • byPhilip Pullella andJeff Mason
French clergy sexually abused more than 200,000 children since 1950,report finds

French clergy sexually abused more than 200,000 children since 1950,report finds

The Catholic Church had shown “deep,total and even cruel indifference for years,” protecting itself rather than the victims of what was systemic abuse in France,the report found.

  • byTangi Salaün andIngrid Melander