Vatican Dispatch

Pope of surprises: but will latest Vatican developments placate papal critics?

rome – fans of the epic british period drama “downton abbey” will recall that in the series finale, at one point gladys denker, maid to the ...

Religious from 60 countries converge on Vatican to prep for 2025 Jubilee of Hope

rome – religious representatives are converging on the vatican this week to prepare for the upcoming 2025 jubilee of hope celebrations, whic...

Senior bishop warns European Union faces a 'critical step' this June for its 'future'

rome – ahead of looming european elections in june, and with a war on the continent still raging, the president of the european bishops has ...

Commemorating Cardinal Consalvi: 200 years of restored relations between Great Britain and the Holy See

last week saw the bicentenary of the death of cardinal ercole consalvi, who died on 24 january 1824. brilliant, erudite and anglop...

John Martin Robinson

Second Canadian cardinal named in sexual abuse lawsuit

rome – a canadian cardinal and key ally of pope francis has been named in a class action sexual abuse lawsuit against the archdiocese of que...

Vatican court overturns priest’s acquittal in landmark seminary sexual abuse case

rome – a vatican court has overturned the acquittal of a priest accused of sexually abusing a fellow student at the vatican’s st. pius x pre...

Pope urges Catholics to pick up a Bible against social media ‘barrage’

rome – pope francis has urged believers to go beyond the “barrage” of words in the social media era and to allow themselves to be transforme...

First ever papal trip to Vietnam likely after thaw in bilateral relations

rome – after meeting vietnamese officials, a top vatican diplomat has said he will travel to vietnam this spring as the two countries contin...

Italians bishops counter Pope by promoting sacked CDF secretary

italian bishops appear to have delivered a snub to pope francis by promoting a vatican official who the pope sacked months after the officia...

Disgraced former cardinal Theodore McCarrick deemed not competent to stand trial in abuse case

new york – a wisconsin judge on 10 january suspended a sexual assault case against theodore mccarrick after a court-appointed psychologist f...