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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

Pope Francis

Pope in critical condition with early kidney failure, remains alert as prayers pour in

Doctors have said 88-year-old Francis’ condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.

24 Feb 2025 - 5:29AMvideocam

Pope Francis

Pope Francis to remain in hospital as doctors treat ‘complex’ infection

18 Feb 2025 - 4:16PM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis taken to hospital for bronchitis after struggling to speak

14 Feb 2025 - 9:26PM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis tells Vatican staff off for gossiping in annual Christmas message

Francis’ message this year revisited a theme he has often warned about: gossiping and speaking ill of people behind their backs.

21 Dec 2024 - 11:10PMvideocam

Pope Francis’ Christmas message this year revisited a theme he has often warned about: gossiping and speaking ill of people behind their backs. Photo: dpa

Environment

Pope Francis joins EV crusade with zero-emission electric Popemobile

Pope Francis, a champion of the environment, will go around in a custom-made electric white Mercedes-Benz Popemobile.

10 Dec 2024 - 4:15PM

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.

16 Aug 2024 - 12:01AMvideocam

Human rights

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

Archives show the Vatican was cracking down on Reverend Marcial Maciel in 1956 over claims of sexual abuse and financial recklessness.

21 Jul 2024 - 11:15PM

Pope John Paul II gives his blessing to late father Marcial Maciel, founder of Christ’s Legionaries, at the Vatican in November 2004. File photo: AP

Italy

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

Pope Francis issued an extraordinary apology on Tuesday after a row over offensive language he was reported to have used to describe gay men.

28 May 2024 - 9:52PM

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.

22 May 2024 - 8:05PMvideocam

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.

9 Apr 2024 - 11:43AM

The UN Security Council holding a meeting at UN headquarters in New York. Photo: AFP

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

12 Mar 2024 - 11:45AM

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.”

8 Jan 2024 - 8:20PM

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.

8 Jan 2024 - 2:20AM

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.

14 Nov 2023 - 9:56PM

Bishop Joseph Li (right) on the first day of his trip to Hong Kong. His visit comes amid seemingly improving relations between the Vatican and mainland China. Photo: Handout

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.

18 Sep 2023 - 8:42AM

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.

13 Sep 2023 - 8:15PMvideocam

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.

2 Sep 2023 - 4:22PM

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.

1 Sep 2023 - 3:21PM

Pope Francis greets a child during a welcoming ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Photo: Reuters

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.

15 Jul 2023 - 10:18PM

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.

13 Jul 2023 - 6:30AM

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

11 Jul 2023 - 10:45AM

Stephen Chow meets the press for the first time since his elevation to cardinal was revealed by Pope Francis on Sunday. Photo: Jelly Tse

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.

18 Jun 2023 - 8:00PMvideocam

China rolled out the red carpet for Honduran President Xiomara Castro in Beijing earlier this month. Photo: Xinhua

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.

19 May 2023 - 6:24AM

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.

1 May 2023 - 12:09PM

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.

1 May 2023 - 3:12AM

Pope Francis during the farewell ceremony at Budapest International Airport at the end of his visit to Hungary, in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday. Photo: Vatican Media Handout / EPA-EFE

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.

28 Apr 2023 - 8:52PM

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.

22 Apr 2023 - 1:35AM

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.

20 Apr 2023 - 9:06PM

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