Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis will send the Vatican’s top expert on sex abuse to Chile to hear from witnesses in the case of a Chilean bishop accused of covering for a paedophile priest, the Vatican announced Tuesday. The pope’s decision was taken on the basis of …
Read More »Pope offers apologies for comments on accused bishop
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, Undefined | AFP | Pope Francis on Monday apologised to victims of sexual abuse after he caused outrage by appearing to support a controversial Chilean bishop. The pope acknowledged he had “hurt” people by suggesting there was no “proof” against Juan Barros, who is accused of covering …
Read More »Do not fear the other, pope says on World Migrant Day
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis called Sunday for hospitality towards migrants, calling it a “sin” to give in to fear of the other as he marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. “It is not easy… to put oneself in the shoes of people so …
Read More »Ahead of pope’s Chile visit, priests accused of child sex abuse
Santiago, Chile | AFP | Almost 80 Roman Catholic clergy have been accused of sexually abusing children in Chile since 2000, a US-based monitoring group said Wednesday ahead of a visit to the country next week by Pope Francis. Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has spoken out against such …
Read More »The Lamborghini built just for Pope Francis
What’s so special? Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Pope Francis got a major vehicle upgrade on Nov.15 when luxury car company Lamborghini stopped by the Vatican to drop off the pontiff’s sweet new ride. Francis, who typically uses Fiats and Fords to get around, was gifted a special-edition Lamborghini Huracan …
Read More »Pope sidesteps Rohingya crisis during Myanmar address
Naypyidaw, Myanmar | AFP | Pope Francis urged respect for rights and justice in a keenly-watched address in Myanmar on Tuesday, but refrained from any mention of the Rohingya or the alleged ethnic cleansing that has driven huge numbers of the Muslim minority from the country. Sharing a stage with Myanmar’s …
Read More »Pope arrives in Myanmar on high-stakes visit
Yangon, Myanmar | AFP | Pope Francis arrived in mainly Buddhist Myanmar Monday on a highly sensitive visit to a country facing sharp global criticism for the alleged ethnic cleansing of its Rohingya Muslim minority. The 80-year-old pontiff, the first to travel to Myanmar, was welcomed by children from different …
Read More »Pope heads to Myanmar and into Rohingya crisis
Rome, Italy | AFP | Pope Francis set off Sunday on his 21st and possibly most delicate overseas trip yet, a six-day visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh against the backdrop of the unfolding Rohingya refugee crisis. The 80-year-old pontiff’s plane left Rome en route for Yangon, Myanmar’s main city, shortly …
Read More »Pope to meet Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis will meet Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar in Dhaka when he visits the Bangladeshi capital next week, a Vatican spokesman said Wednesday. Francis, who has repeatedly spoken out over the persecution of the religious minority by the Myanmar authorities, will meet a …
Read More »Pope urges police to show ‘mercy’ in traffic stops
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Monday called on police to show “mercy” during traffic stops while standing firm against those who use the streets as their own Formula 1 race track. Meeting with representatives of the Italian traffic and railway police, the Argentine-born pontiff spoke …
Read More »