Vatican Cardinal Parolin hopeful about “synergy” with Trump administration
Vatican City RNS The number two officer at the Vatican said that the Holy See is hopeful about working with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to address peacekeeping options as wars escalate in Europe and beyond. Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s comments were made on Friday at a conference on Catholicism and China at the Pontifical Gregorian University, […]
Vatican’s chief diplomat congratulates Trump, wishes him “great wisdom”
Vatican City Reuters The Roman Catholic Church’s highest-ranking diplomat offered congratulations to US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday and wished him “great wisdom” as he prepares to return to the White House. Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrives at Sakhir Palace, south of Manama, Bahrain, on 3rd November, 2022. PICTURE: Reuters/Hamad l Mohammed/File […]
The Czech Republic becomes one of last EU countries to sign a treaty with the Vatican
Prague, Czech Republic AP The Czech Republic signed a treaty over its relations with the Vatican on Thursday, becoming one of the last European Union countries to do so. The lower chamber of Parliament rejected the treaty in 2003, saying the Catholic Church would receive preferential treatment over other churches and that it would be […]
Zelenskiy seeks Pope’s help to free Ukraine POWs held in Russia
Vatican City Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked Pope Francis during a meeting at the Vatican on Friday for help in securing the release of Ukrainians held captive by Russia. Zelenskiy, who is touring major European capitals to discuss his proposed “victory plan” for the war with Russia, said he had also invited the Vatican […]
Russia’s Lavrov discusses Ukraine conflict issues with senior Vatican official
Reuters Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, discussed humanitarian issues linked to the two-and-a-half-year-old conflict in Ukraine, his ministry said late on Wednesday. “The sides noted constructive development in the Russia-Vatican dialogue, in terms of relations between states and churches and mutual actions in the humanitarian sphere […]
Ukrainian ambassador to the Vatican believes a visit by Pope Francis would promote peace
Vatican City RNS Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, has asked Pope Francis to visit Ukraine almost every time they’ve met for a private audience. Each time, the Pope has pointed to a folder resting on his desk containing the formal invitation from Ukrainian officials and said he is waiting “for the appropriate […]
Archbishop who opposed Pope Francis says he faces schism accusation
Vatican City Reuters Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a senior Italian churchman who had called for Pope Francis to resign, said on Thursday he has been accused by the Vatican of schism and denying the Pope’s legitimacy. Vigano, the papal envoy in Washington from 2011-2016, said he had been summoned to the Palace of the Holy […]
Taiwan watches Vatican-China ties, says China violated deal on bishops
Taipei, Taiwan Reuters Taiwan is paying close attention to interactions between the Vatican and China, the island’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, adding that China had “repeatedly violated” a 2018 agreement on the appointment of bishops. The Vatican, which only has formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, would like to establish a permanent office in China, […]
Vatican makes fresh overture to China, reaffirms that Catholic Church is no threat to sovereignty
Rome, Italy AP The Vatican made another big overture to China on Tuesday, reaffirming the Catholic Church poses no threat to Beijing’s sovereignty and admitting that Western missionaries had made “errors” in past centuries in their zeal to convert the Chinese faithful. The Vatican hosted the head of China’s bishops conference for an unprecedented, high-level […]
After Ukraine controversy, Pope again condemns “madness of war”
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis on Wednesday issued a fresh condemnation of all wars, days after irking Kyiv and Western capitals for appearing to suggest that Ukraine should surrender and negotiate peace with its Russian invader. Francis had told Swiss broadcaster RSI that Ukraine should “show the courage of the white flag” and open talks […]