The Holy See: Is Its Sovereignty Under Attack?
The trial that began last week in the Vatican over “the passing on of classified documents” represents the strongest ever defense of its state sovereignty by the Holy See. This…
Pope Francis Carries on Reforms, But Real Revolution Is Continuity
The Papal rescript that confirmed the reform of the canonical procedures for marriage annulments and harmonized the norms concerning local tribunals was published by the Holy See Press Office on…
Pope Francis, toward a new diplomatic direction
Pope Francis’ address at the United Nations marked a slight difference from the speeches that have characterized his pontificate’s diplomatic activity to date. Putting aside the traditional topics of the…
Pope Francis, a Church 200 years out of date
Benny Lai, dean of Italian Vatican-watchers, during the last years of his life always insisted, “It’s not my Vatican anymore.” Lai – accredited since 1946 – especially missed the sense…
Pope Francis, how the narrative behind him was constructed
The latest interpretation of Benedict XVI’s resignation was given in recent weeks by Fr. Silvano Fausti, a Jesuit who was Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini’s confessor. Right before he died last…
Pope Francis, the Latin American angle
Pope Francis’ trip to Latin America may be epitomized in one image: the Pope’s disappointed face when the Bolivian president, Evo Morales, gave him a crucifix sculpted in the shape…
Pope Francis, between the shadow Synod and a new direction
The “Shadow synod” is a gathering of members from the Swiss, French and Germany Bishops’ Conferences dedicated to the issues to be discussed at the coming Synod of Bishops. Media…
Pope Francis: Will His ‘Revolution’ Be Effective?
Pope Francis dedicated the week preceding Holy Week to finishing the draft of his much awaited encyclical on ecology. Despite this “institutional break,” the discussion on Church reforms is still…
Will Pope Francis’ Church be able to go Beyond the Secular Agenda?
To encounter the secular world or to shape a new civilization? Pope Francis’ Church is divided between these two poles. Despite the Pope’s continual appeals in favor of desecularization, of…
Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology: what to expect and what not
What if Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology is in reality a text with a broader message, and ecology is just a papal pretext to ask the world’s rulers for further…
Pope Francis: the world behind the “Laudato Si”
The encyclical “Laudato Si” not only reveals Pope Francis’ thought concerning the social teaching of the Church and good ecological practices. The genesis of its drafting also reveals the world…
To Go Where God Is Needed: Pope Francis’ Criterion for European Trips
There must be a hidden criterion by which Pope Francis chooses the countries to which he travels. As far as the Old Europe is concerned, after the trip to Sarajevo…
Pope Francis, charity in truth or truth in charity?
Charity in truth or truth in charity? This is the conundrum the more 300 delegates of the 133 associations under the Caritas Internationalis (CI) umbrella who voted May 14 for…
Pope Francis, the Papacy of the media and the real Papacy
Pope Francis is now facing the slowdown of his reforms. The establishment of a Commission for Communications to shape and implement the proposals of the Committee for Communications appointed some…
Pope Francis, the diplomacy of freedom
Pope Francis gave an important speech this week to the joint committe of the Council for European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and to the Conference of European Churches (CEC). In the…
