Sources: Vatican Radio
Pope Francis expresses his concerns over the tense situation in Paraguay due to a deepening health and political crisis in the South American nation which have led to protests and instances of violence in recent days. In his message, the Pope appeals for dialogue to prevail over violence. 2021-03-17
Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Leo Boccardi, until now apostolic nuncio in Iran, as apostolic nuncio in Japan. 2021-03-11
Father Bernardo Buil, a friar from Aragon, celebrates the first Mass in the New World at La Isabela in Puerto Plata on January 6, 1494. To commemorate this 525-year event Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez of El Salvador as his representative for the anniversary Mass. Father Buil accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage. 2019-01-7
Pope Francis asks the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, now meeting in Baltimore, to delay voting on proposals to address the sexual abuse crisis until he leads a global summit in February. 2018-11-12
Pope Francis changes Catholic Church teaching to fully reject the death penalty, saying that it would work to abolish the death penalty worldwide. 2018-08-2
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asks Pope Francis for a public apology for the Roman Catholic Church's role in the abuse of indigenous children in the residential school system. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI issued an expression of sorrow after an audience with Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine. 2017-05-29
Pope Francis's visit to Armenia this weekend may stress relations with Turkey. The Pope is seeking to avoid reigniting the diplomatic dispute that arose last year when he described the 1915 mass killings of Armenians as a genocide. The Vatican prefers the Armenian phrase "Medz Yeghern," which roughly translates as "the great evil or calamity." 2016-06-23
Pope Francis meets with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb in the Vatican. 2016-05-23
The three-week synod on the family convened by Pope Francis at the Vatican concludes with traditional Catholic orientations toward marriage and the family intact. 2015-10-24
Pope Francis departs from Rome to begin his Apostolic Visit to Cuba. Francis will then visit the US. In the US, he will address a joint session of Congress (the first by an incumbent Pope), meet with President Obama, canonize Junípero Serra, tour a prison and the World Trade Center site, hold Masses in New York, Washington, and Philadelphia, and preside over the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. 2015-09-19