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Pope Francis gives women historic right to vote at meeting

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The Pope has announced that, for the first time, women will be given voting rights at a major global meeting of bishops called the synod, which is an advisory body to the Pope. Previously, women were only permitted to attend as observers. The new rules will allow five religious sisters to vote, while men will still cast the majority of the votes.

The change is being viewed as a significant move towards gender equality within the male-dominated Roman Catholic Church. The Women’s Ordination Conference, which advocates for women priests, has hailed the reform as “a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling”.

The Pope also announced that 70 non-clerical members of the religious community will be given voting rights, further breaking from tradition.

The Pope has expressed his desire for half of the non-clerical members with voting rights at the synod to be women and to include more young people. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, an organizer of the synod, described the changes as important but not revolutionary.

Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb stated that the reforms were highly significant and reflected the Pope’s efforts to make the Church more inclusive in decision-making. However, Lamb also predicted that the Pope would face resistance from some members of the Church over the decision to allow women to vote. The changes were the result of unprecedented dialogue on the issue of female representation within the Church.

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Pope Francis: Health improving after night in hospital

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The Vatican has stated that Pope Francis’ health is doing better after he was sent to the hospital with a respiratory illness.

He was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Wednesday, for what was initially said to be a planned check-up. According to a statement released on Thursday by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the 86-year-old pope’s medical care is still ongoing.

He said, “His Holiness Pope Francis slept soundly last night.” He read a few newspapers this morning after breakfast before getting back to work.

He continued by saying that he then went to the hospital’s chapel, where he prayed and received the Communion.

When the Pope might leave Rome’s Gemelli hospital was not specified by Mr. Bruni. He is anticipated to stay there for “a few days,” according to the Vatican on Wednesday.

According to a source with intimate information who spoke to the BBC, his closest team members—including security—spent the night with him. The Easter holiday weekend is the busiest period of the year for Pope Francis, who has a full programme of events and services.

This weekend is Palm Sunday Mass, followed by Holy Week and Easter activities the following week. Nurses were hopeful that he would be discharged in time for Palm Sunday, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

It stated that testing had ruled out pneumonia and cardiac issues. The Church previously declared that he was not afflicted with Covid-19.

Earlier this month, the Argentine pontiff celebrated his tenth anniversary as head of the Catholic Church. It is a well-known fact that the majority of the world’s population lives in the urban environment.

He maintains a hectic schedule and travels extensively, although he has used a wheelchair for the past year due to knee discomfort and acknowledged last summer that he had to slow down.

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Pope Hails Benedict During Solemn Funeral for Being “Intelligent, Tender”

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In order to preside over the burial of his predecessor, who resigned from the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has joined pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. As Pope Benedict XVI’s body was taken out and positioned on the steps of St. Peter’s cathedral in the Vatican, the dome was veiled in mist.

The believers who had gathered for the funeral applauded. Benedict was then buried beneath the basilica in a tomb. Cardinals in red robes, nuns, and monks in their dark robes were among the clergy from all over the world who had arrived. In a wheelchair, Pope Francis was wheeled out onto the dais.

The Sistine Chapel choir’s Latin songs resounded all over the area. The atmosphere was sombre and reserved.

A teacher named Daniele told me the weather was appropriate for the occasion after he and the former pope had met in a church in Rome. Pope Benedict’s enigma, the mystery of life and death, is symbolised by the fog.

Pope Francis talked of “knowledge, love and devotion that he showered upon us through the years” at the Mass, which was celebrated by cardinals, bishops, and priests.

“Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom,” he said referring to Jesus, “may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever.”

Police estimate that 50,000 people attended the funeral. Italy and Germany, the country of the late Pope Benedict, both sent official delegations. The king and queen of Belgium attended in a private capacity, as did several heads of state.

With Benedict’s passing, the extraordinary situation of a pope and a previous pope coexisting in the Vatican comes to an end. This position was made possible by Benedict’s resignation almost ten years ago.

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Pope Francis says world suffering a ‘famine of peace’

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In his traditional Christmas Day broadcast from the Vatican, Pope Francis claimed that there is a “famine of peace” around the world. He criticised the use of “food as a weapon” in warfare and demanded a stop to the “senseless war” in Ukraine.

About 30% of the world’s wheat was delivered by Ukraine, and since the Russian invasion in February, prices have increased. Pope Francis delivered his tenth Christmas Day address since taking office. He spent the majority of his ten-minute address discussing the conflict in Ukraine, but he added that there was “a catastrophic famine of peace also in other regions and other theatres of this Third World War.” He specifically mentioned the conflicts and humanitarian problems in the Sahel, Haiti, Myanmar, and the Middle East.

The pontiff prayed for “reconciliation” in Iran, where there have been widespread anti-government demonstrations for more than three months. Human rights organisations claim that a crackdown in response to the protests there has resulted in the deaths of more than 500 people, including 69 children.

The 86-year-old Pope bemoaned the human price of war while speaking from a balcony of the basilica that looked out over St. Peter’s Square. He pleaded with people to keep in mind those “who go hungry while enormous amounts of food go to waste daily and resources are being wasted on weaponry.”

“The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa,” he said.

“We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon, hindering its distribution to people already suffering.”

According to the Pope, “those with political responsibility” should set an example by making food “exclusively an instrument of peace.”

The traditional blessing Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World), repeated in Latin and customarily in many other languages, was said after his sermon.

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10-year-old on stage for pope’s hat; Pope gave the gift

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The world was amazed by the 10-year-old boy who ran on stage during the Pope’s event. During a weekly public meeting of the Pope, a child approached the Pope and expressed his desire for the Pope’s white hat, and Pope Francis praised the freedom and desire of the children.

The incident took place in the audience of Paul VI Hall. Papa grabbed the running boy with both hands and greeted him. When asked to sit next to him, the head of protocol, Monsignor Leonardo Sapianza, stood up and gave the boy his chair to the right of the pope. The boy then pointed to the white cap of the pope, known as Suketo, several times.

Applause and laughter erupted from the audience as the officers recognized the hint and handed the child a similar hat. As soon as he got the hat, the boy put the hat on his head and left the stage. This is a child with disabilities.

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Pope Francis denies the report on resignation

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Pope Francis has said he will not resign and will lead a “normal” life after surgery. The pope, who underwent intestinal surgery on July 4, was responding to a news in an Italian newspaper claiming he might resign on his 85th birthday in December. The surgery was to relieve the difficulty caused by the contraction of the intestine.

The incision was made 33 cm from the intestine. He said he could eat anything now and that it was not possible before. The pope said he had been treated with antibiotics and had been advised by a male nurse at the Vatican to perform the surgery, which saved his life.

He ruled out the possibility of resigning, saying he was “almost certain” to attend a climate change conference in Glasgow in November. He will visit Hungary and Slovakia from 12 to 15 this month. There may also be trips to Cyprus, Greece and Malta.

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Pope Francis Leaves Hospital After 10 Days of Colon Surgery

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Pope Francis has left the hospital in Rome after having had his intestinal surgery 10 days ago. The pontiff, who is 84 years old, was released at 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET) from Gemelli Polytechnic hospital.

On his way home to Casa Santa Maria in Vatican City, he stopped to pray at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni said in the statement. “He expressed his gratitude for the success of his surgery and offered a prayer for all the sick, especially those he had met during his stay in the hospital,” said Bruni in the statement.

Francis had surgery for a severe narrowing of his large intestine on July 4, his first major surgery since he became pope in 2013. The Vatican said it was a planned procedure though it didn’t release any details before he was admitted to the hospital. The surgery was scheduled for early July when his audiences are usually suspended and he would normally take some time off.

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Unexpected resignation exposes flaws in Vatican administrative structure

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The unexpected resignation of a high-ranking Vatican official, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, has exposed the flaws in the Vatican administrative structure.

The resigned Cardinal alleged that he was told to file his resignation by Pope Francis

As per a report, the ousted Cardinal was earlier placed under suspension for misusing Church money.

The allegation against the Cardinal was that he illegally handed Church money to his brothers.

The ousted Cardinal has denounced all allegations levelled against him.

A little-known fact is that Cardinal Becciu was a close aide to the Pope.

Once the said Cardinal was an important officer in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.

It was a corruption allegation linked to a controversial deal to invest in a luxury London building which damaged the image of this priest.

The issue placed the priest under the spotlight of a financial investigation.

It is the first time in the recent history that a senior member of the Vatican administration has been removed from the corridor of power.

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Retired Pope strongly opposes Pope Francis’ plan to ease celibacy rules

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Retired Pope Benedict XVI has strongly opposed the, so called, plan of Pope Francis to ease the celibacy rules of the Church.

It is unusual for a retired Pope to comment about the clerical matters of the Church. Not any time before the retired Pope has come out strongly against Pope Francis.

Notably, a book co-authored by the retired Pope is used to launch an indirect attack against the new plan of the serving Pope.

Neither the serving Pope not the Vatican authority has commented yet about the argument projected against the Pope’s latest celibacy policy by the former leader of the Church.

In the coming days, the latest development is likely to trigger more serious debates about whether the celibacy laws of the Church should be relaxed or not.

It is possible for the issue to make a deep divide.

Pope Francis is not likely to make a direct comment against the argument raised by the former Pope in defence of the existing celibacy laws of the Church.

The present Pope is known for his revolutionary policies. Since his induction, he has already brought several significant changes in the Church.

His reputation as a revolutionary leader means the chances are less for him to step back from the new revolutionary policy.


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Pope Francis begins three-day visit to Bulgaria and North Macedonia

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Pope Francis has started a three day visit to the countries Bulgaria and North Macedonia. His visits aimed at improving relations with the Orthodox Church.

On arriving, Pope was greeted by Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov. Borissov said about Pope’s visit as, “it reflects his interest in the peaceful economic development of the Balkans”.

During his visit, Pope urged the Bulgarians to change their attitude towards migrants. The Orthodox leaders said they would not take part in joint services or prayers with the Pope.

Pope said, “To all Bulgarians, who are familiar with the drama of emigration, I respectfully suggest that you not close your eyes, your hearts or your hands — in accordance with your best tradition — to those who knock at your door”.

“Bulgaria faces the effects of the emigration in recent decades of over two million of her citizens in search of new opportunities for employment,” he said, adding that this had “led to the depopulation and abandonment of many villages and cities”, he added.

The Vatican has been trying for the unity between the two branches of Christianity, which split in 1054. During his three day tour, Pope is also visiting a refugee camp on the outskirts of Sofia and a commemoration of Mother Teresa, the most famous native of the Macedonian capital Skopje.

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