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Holy See

The Vatican and China have both been calling for talks between the warring parties. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

China and Vatican discuss Ukraine peace plan as Russia continues to lose ground

The Holy See and Beijing have both been pushing for an end to the war, with Beijing pushing a six-point plan agreed with Brazil.

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Human rights

Vatican’s Pius XII archives shed light on Legionaries of Christ scandal

Italy

‘Never intended to offend’: Pope sorry for homophobic slur about gay priests

China-Vatican relations

Beijing hopes for better ties as Vatican seeks ‘stable presence in China’

Beijing’s pledge comes after Holy See hosts Shanghai bishop for Concilium Sinense centenary, offers to ‘renew and develop’ 2018 deal on appointing bishops.

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Shanghai Bishop Joseph Shen Bin with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in Rome on Tuesday. Photo: AP
United Nations

UN Security Council refers Palestinian full UN member application to committee

The United Nations Security Council said on Monday that it would decide this month on the Palestinians’ bid for full UN membership, with the long-shot campaign unlikely to survive US opposition.

Ukraine war

Ukraine summons Vatican envoy over pope’s ‘white flag’ comments

Ukraine has angrily rejected Pope Francis’s suggestion to negotiate with Russia two years after its invasion, vowing ‘never’ to surrender to Moscow

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Italy

Pope calls for global ban on ‘despicable’ act of surrogacy

Francis said the life of the unborn child must be protected and not “suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking.”

Pope Francis on Monday called for a universal ban on the “despicable” practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the “commercialization” of pregnancy in an annual speech listing the threats to global peace and human dignity. Photo: AP
Catholic Church

Priests should be allowed to get married, says top Vatican official

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who leads Malta’s Catholic Church, said the church was losing people because of its strict celibacy rules.

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Hong Kong society

Beijing’s top Catholic cleric visits Hong Kong to bolster ties between dioceses

Bishop Joseph Li is on ‘reciprocal visit’, the first by Beijing’s top Catholic cleric since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, following counterpart’s trip to capital.

Italy

WWII Pope Pius knew about death camps in 1942, letter suggests

The relationship between Pope Pius XII and Nazi top ranks, especially Adolf Hitler, has long been known, but the recently discovered letter suggests he received regular updates from Germany about the killings.

A document from archives on Pope Pius XII, who reigned from 1939-1958, containing the names of people who were executed during a massacre. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Vatican’s Ukraine peace envoy Cardinal Zuppi set for 3-day visit to China

Visit is another step in ‘mission desired by the pope to sustain humanitarian initiatives’ and seek paths leading to ‘a just peace’, the Vatican says.

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Cardinal Matteo Zuppi welcomes parishioners after celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow, on June 29. Photo: AP
Mongolia

Pope Francis praises Mongolia but warns of corruption, environmental ruin

The pontiff says Mongolia’s tradition of living in harmony with nature and its creatures ‘can contribute significantly’ to efforts to protect Earth.

Mongolia

Pope arrives in Mongolia, a nation of 1,400 Catholics on China’s doorstep

Pope Francis sent a message of ‘unity and peace’ to China as he made his first trip to Buddhist-majority Mongolia.

Italy

Shanghai bishop approved by Pope as Vatican chides China for ‘violation’

Pope Francis has named Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to head the vacant Shanghai diocese after China moved him from Jiangsu province earlier this year in an apparent violation of a bilateral pact.

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Pope Francis has approved Bishop Shen for the Shanghai diocese because he is an “esteemed pastor”, the Vatican said. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong

Editorial | Chow gives boost to reconciliation hopes

On his elevation to cardinal, the head of the Hong Kong Catholic diocese, Stephen Chow Sau-yan, has renewed calls for peace in a divided society and pledged to reach out to mainland China.

Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Hong Kong’s Catholic Bishop, meets the media outside the Catholic Diocese Centre. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong politics

New Hong Kong Cardinal Stephen Chow says elevation has given him ‘new mission’

Hongkongers need ‘chance to take a break, reconcile and calm down’, which will require ‘cooperation of many parties’, Chow says

Taiwan

Beijing’s trade deals tempt Taipei’s allies in Latin America – but not Pacific

China and Honduras sealed their diplomatic relationship by signing a series of economic agreements and moves towards a free-trade pact.

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Pope Francis

Car breaches Vatican gate, is fired on by gendarmes

The driver, who appears to have psychiatric problems, was arrested after exiting his vehicle at the palace courtyard.

A general view of St Peter’s Square at the Vatican in November 2020. Thursday’s incident was not the first time that someone with apparent psychiatric problems caused a disturbance at the Vatican. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Pope says Vatican involved in secret Ukraine peace ‘mission’

Pope Francis spoke of a mission ‘not yet public’ during his return journey from a three-day visit to Hungary.

Hungary

Pope Francis: Vatican open to helping return Ukrainian children taken to Russia

The pope revealed a secret peace ‘mission’ was under way but gave no details when asked whether he spoke about peace initiatives during his talks in Budapest this weekend with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Hong Kong politics

Being patriotic requires ‘extra effort’ by colonial-era Hongkongers: Catholic cleric

Bishop Stephen Chow acknowledges recent call for patriotism could spark ‘complicated emotions’, but says faith can help teach people to love country, church.

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Bishop Stephen Chow, the head of Hong Kong’s Catholic diocese, has encouraged resident to embrace patriotism. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong politics

Patriotism is everyone’s duty, Hong Kong bishop says during historic Beijing trip

Bishop Stephen Chow’s five-day trip marks first time city’s top Catholic cleric has visited Beijing since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.

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(From left) Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha, Bishop Stephen Chow and Bishop Joseph Li in Beijing. The portrait is of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong Catholic bishop calls for closer ties with mainland Chinese churches

Five-day visit by Bishop Stephen Chow marks first time local top Catholic cleric has made Beijing trip since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.

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My Take

My Take | Uneasy pact appears to suit Vatican and China right now

Both Rome and Beijing have bigger things to worry about than a deal on mutually acceptable bishops especially as Hong Kong’s top Catholic cleric travels to meet mainland counterpart.

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Italy

Pope talks about sex abuse, racism, hate speech in Disney+ film

The documentary captures a meeting in Rome last year between the pontiff and 10 young people from around the world – a mix of Catholics, atheists and Muslims.

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A Disney+ documentary has Pope Francis in a frank discussion with a group of young people. Photo: Handout
China-Vatican relations

Vatican says China has unilaterally appointed bishop to Shanghai

The move to transfer Bishop Shen Bin from Haimen to the largest Roman Catholic diocese in the country appears to violate a secret pact between the 2 states.

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Worshippers are seen at a Catholic church in Shanghai in February 2018. Photo: Mimi Lau
Italy

Pope extends sex abuse law to cover lay leaders, German bishop resigns

Dealing with the scandals of child sex abuse by Catholic priests around the world has been one of the biggest challenges for the Pope.

Australia

Child sex scandal-tainted Australian cardinal dies aged 81

Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of child sex abuse, spent 404 days in solitary confinement in his native Australia before his convictions were overturned.

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Holy See
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Holy See. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Capital
Vatican City
Head of State
Pope Francis
Head of Government
President of the Governorate Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
last updated:
29 November, 2024
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