# Vatican
Last week
19th March 2023 - 25th March 2023
# Catholic Church
Pope Francis extends 2019 sex abuse law to cover lay leaders
A letter, directly sent by the pontiff, also said that vulnerable adults could be victims of predator priests
# Acropolis
Vatican returns sculpture fragments taken from Parthenon to Greece
The fragments will be added to the collection at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 at the foot of the ancient site in Athens.
This year
2023
# pope francis
Pope Francis urges end to ethnic hatred at open-air mass in South Sudan
It was the pontiff’s first visit to the largely Christian country since it achieved independence from mainly Muslim Sudan in 2011.
# pope francis
Pope Francis: Those criminalising homosexuality are 'wrong'
The Pontiff has written a letter clarifying his earlier comments about homosexual acts being a sin.
# Australia
Cardinal Pell, whose abuse convictions were overturned, dies aged 81
Vatican news agency EWTN reported that his death on Tuesday was due to complications from hip replacement surgery.
# papal funeral
Former Pope Benedict XVI buried in Vatican following funeral mass this morning
Police estimated some 100,000 people would attend.
# Catholic Church
Pilgrims keep streaming to Vatican to honour Pope Benedict
The former pontiff’s body is lying in state after his death on Saturday.
# Lying in state
Tens of thousands pay tribute to ex-pope Benedict at Vatican
Today is the first day of three days of lying-in-state at St Peter’s Basilica.
# Pope Benedict XVI
Pope leads New Year's services with homage to 'beloved' Benedict
Delivering his Sunday Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square, the pope bowed his head in a moment of silence.
Last year
2022
# Pope Benedict XVI
Irish and world leaders pay tributes as former pope Benedict XVI dies aged 95
Benedict XVI resigned as pope in 2013.
His health had been in decline, with Pope Francis calling for prayers in recent days
Benedict will be buried in the papal tombs under St Peter's Basilica
The German pope emeritus, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, had been living a quiet life since his shock decision to step down
# Catholic Church
Pope Benedict XVI dead at 95: From the Nazi Youth to the papacy
The German national became pontiff in 2005.
# Pope
Ex-pope Benedict's condition remains 'stable', Vatican says
Pope Francis said on Wednesday his predecessor was “very ill”.
# Vatican
Ex-pope Benedict's health serious but stable, says Vatican
Benedict, who was the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign as head of the Catholic Church, has been in fragile health for many years.
# Vatican
Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI ‘worsening’
95-year-old Benedict became the first pontiff to resign in six centuries when he stepped down in 2013.
# Catholic Church
Vatican to launch preliminary abuse investigation into French cardinal
Jean-Pierre Ricard, a long-standing bishop of Bordeaux, admitted to a “reprehensible” act on a 14-year-old.
# Nicaragua
Pope 'concerned' after Nicaraguan bishop detained
Pope Francis said he was following “closely with concern and sorrow” the situation in Nicaragua, two days after bishop and regime critic Rolando Alvarez was detained.
# pope francis
Pope Francis says he may have to slow down or retire
The 85-year-old pope has been using a wheelchair more frequently due to knee pain.
# pope francis
Pope appoints first women to Vatican department responsible for choosing new bishops
Two nuns and a laywoman have been appointed to the Dicastery for Bishops.
# Vatican
Pope Francis dismisses resignation rumours
Francis also said he hopes to visit Moscow and Kyiv.
# pope francis
Pope Francis fuels speculation on future
Italian and Catholic media have been rife with unsourced rumours that the 85-year-old, who is suffering mobility problems, might resign.
# pope francis
Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals
Many of the names are figures from outside Europe, keeping with Francis’s determination to have church leaders reflect the global face of the Catholic Church.
# Vatican
Powerful Vatican prelate Cardinal Angelo Sodano dies aged 94
His legacy was tarnished by his support for the paedophile founder of an influential religious order.
# Catholic Church
Pope Francis apologises to Canadian Indigenous people for abuse at church-run schools
Numerous investigations into the former residential schools are underway across Canada after the discovery of mass unmarked graves.
# Pope Benedict
Former pope confirms he attended meeting in 1980 about abusive priest despite earlier denial
He says an editorial error was responsible for his previous assertion that he was not there.
All time
# Vatican
Joe Biden’s meeting with Pope Francis runs into overtime
Biden’s support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage has put him at odds with many US bishops.
# Vatican
Two priests cleared after Vatican sex abuse trial
The case was the Vatican’s first criminal trial for such allegations.
# Vatican
Cardinal on trial as Vatican financial scandal case resumes
Cardinal Angelo Becciu served as the equivalent of chief of staff for Pope Francis at the time of the deal.
# Banned
Vatican sanctions Polish archbishop for cover-up of child sexual abuse
The retired archbishop has been banned from public service.
# Angelo Becciu
Cardinal and nine others on trial in landmark Vatican fraud case
It’s the largest criminal trial in the Vatican’s modern history.
# Catholic Church
Vatican indicts 10, including Cardinal, on charges including extortion and abuse of office
Cardinal Angelo Becciu is among those facing an indictment.
# evening fix
Here's What Happened Today: Tuesday
Here’s your round-up of what made the headlines today.
# Vatican
Vatican challenges Italian homophobia law in 'unprecedented' move
The Vatican argues the anti-homophobia law violates a treaty between Rome and the Holy See.
# abortion views
US Catholic bishops advance effort that could deny Biden holy communion
Biden supports the landmark 1973 US Supreme Court decision affirming a woman’s right to an abortion.
# Vatican
Pope updates canon law to address sexual abuse of children by priests
It came after repeated complaints by victims of sexual abuse and others that previous wording within the code was outdated and opaque.
# Papal Visit
Pope Francis arrives in Iraq for first papal visit amid pandemic and security concerns
Foreign minister Fuad Hussein said Iraqis were eager to welcome Francis’s ‘message of peace and tolerance’.
# Capitol Violence
Pope calls for US to show 'sense of responsibility'
Pope Francis urged the US authorities to protect democratic values.
# Vatican
Pope appoints first African American cardinal
Pope Francis has created 95 new cardinals since his election in 2013.
# Vatican
Pope Francis meets with Cardinal George Pell following sex abuse trial
George Pell was convicted but ultimately absolved by Australia’s High Court of sex abuse allegations.
# Resignation
Vatican announces surprise resignation of top cardinal Angelo Becciu
The 72-year-old was named as a cardinal in summer 2018.
# papal peck
‘Don’t bite!’ Pope negotiates papal kiss from nun after hand-slapping controversy
The image of Francis slapping his way free from the clutches of an admirer last week was an instant hit on social media.
