Pope Francis made a rousing call for peace on the first day of his historic visit to war-battered Iraq today, pleading with his hosts for an ‘end to acts of violence and extremism, factions and intolerance’. The 84-year-old, who defied security fears and the pandemic to become the first pontiff to travel to Iraq, urged … Read more
The Pope departs from Rome for historic first-ever visit by a pontiff to Iraq – and his most dangerous foreign journey since his election Pope Francis boarded flight at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport on Friday 84-year-old will arrive in Baghdad today, for the start of a three-day visit to Iraq It marks the first … Read more
Pope Francis will receive Covid-19 jab this week and declares ‘without a vaccine you are playing with life’ Vatican City is preparing to vaccinate its 450 residents this week with Pfizer jab Pope Francis said it is an ‘ethical duty’ for everyone to get inoculated He has been in favour of vaccines despite misgivings among … Read more
Pope’s personal doctor dies from coronavirus ‘complications’, aged 78, after pontiff revealed he will get vaccine as early as next week Fabrizio Soccorsi was hospitalised on Boxing Day with an oncological disease Pope Francis’ personal doctor died on Saturday with Covid complications It is not known when he was last in close contact with the … Read more
Pope Francis reveals he will get Covid vaccine as early as next week and says opposition to jab is ‘suicidal denial’ Pope Francis, 84, will receive Covid vaccine as early as next week, he confirmed Pontiff had part of one lung removed as a younger man in his native Argentina Described people not getting the vaccination … Read more
Pope says he is ‘saddened’ by Covid rule breakers who are ignoring travel restrictions during pandemic as he condemns people looking after their own interests above others Francis said he read reports of people catching flights to flee government curbs ‘This really saddened me,’ he added in address from Vatican’s Apostolic Palace Many countries have … Read more
Pope Francis appears for the first time since sciatica forced him to skip New Year Mass and wishes the world ‘peace and serenity’ Pope Francis led the traditional Angelus prayers in the Apostolic Palace ‘I send you all my best wishes for peace and serenity in the new year,’ he said Comes after the Pope skipped … Read more
Pope Francis, 84, is suffering with painful sciatica which has forced him to bow out of holding the Vatican prayer service tonight and New Year’s Day Mass Spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope won’t preside at service in St Peter’s Basilica He has suffered from the problem in the past but will deliver New Year’s blessing Sciatica can … Read more
Christians across the world celebrated Christmas today under unusual circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. Streams of drummers marched through Bethlehem yesterday and Notre Dame hosted a choral concert for the first time since it was destroyed by fire. Pope Francis hosted Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City slightly earlier … Read more
Pope Francis urges countries to strive for peace as he leads just 200 masked faithful at an early evening Covid-restricted ‘midnight’ mass in St Peter’s Basilica Pope celebrated the mass in St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, on Christmas Eve Mostly employees of the state attended papal ceremony whilst wearing masks Mass was held at 7.30pm instead … Read more