Articles by Andrea Gagliarducci
Iraqi priests work to save historic Christian writings from Islamic State
Jan 29, 2015 / 02:01 amEffectively exiled from his friary in Mosul by the Islamic State last year, Fr. Najeeb Michaeel, O.P. is working to preserve Christian manuscripts through digitization, recording a memory of Iraq's Christian past.
Will the number of dioceses in Italy be cut in the near future?
Jan 28, 2015 / 00:03 amA plan to reduce the number of Italian dioceses has been widely debated in the Italian bishops conference, and a first draft of the plan has reportedly already been given to the Congregation for Bishops and has undergone some adjustments.
Blessed Odoardo Focherini, the father of seven who saved 100 Jewish lives
Jan 27, 2015 / 17:01 pmAs Pope Francis tweeted Jan. 27 to observe the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, it is worth remembering Bl. Odoardo Focherini, who died a martyr to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution.
Cardinal praises Catholics in Vietnam for their witness to the faith
Jan 27, 2015 / 00:03 amCardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, lauded the efforts of the Catholic community in Vietnam during his pastoral visit last week and encouraged them in the path of mission.
For Pope Francis, faith is a criterion in investigating a marriage's validity
Jan 23, 2015 / 13:16 pmIn investigating the validity of a marriage, ecclesial judges should consider whether the decision to marry was made in the context of values and faith, Pope Francis said on Friday.
Pope Francis completes new Vatican office to tackle clergy abuse
Jan 23, 2015 / 00:03 amPope Francis completed the membership of the new Vatican body with responsibility for dealing with clerical sex abuse on Wednesday, marking a further step in providing adequate procedures to insure justice for all the victims.
Pius XII helped Jews in Rome – and an Italian historian has the evidence
Jan 22, 2015 / 17:44 pmAn Italian historian has found evidence that Venerable Pius XII’s order to open the doors to Jewish refugees was delivered to two enclosed monasteries in Rome, “L’Osservatore Romano” wrote on Wednesday.
Francis likely to bring up poverty in his expected UN visit in New York
Jan 21, 2015 / 17:18 pmAccording to the Vatican's Observer to the United Nations, Pope Francis is likely to address the issue of poverty before the international body, a speech that is anticipated in the proposed schedule for his upcoming US trip.
'Given the new situation, a papal trip to Cuba would be hoped for'
Jan 20, 2015 / 12:43 pmFollowing the Vatican-brokered restoration of relations between the US and Cuba, a visit of Pope Francis to the island should be “expected and welcomed,” according to the Vatican's emeritus Secretary of State.
Full text of Pope's in-flight interview from Manila to Rome
Jan 19, 2015 / 15:20 pmSpeaking to journalists aboard the Jan. 19 flight from Manila to Rome concluding his Asian pilgrimage, Pope Francis discussed what he learned from Filipinos; his upcoming trip to Philadelphia and other US cities; how one can be a responsible parent without resorting to birth control; the colonization of gender ideology; and the possibility of a papal trip to Africa.
Full transcript of Pope's interview in-flight to Manila
Jan 15, 2015 / 11:58 amSpeaking to journalists aboard the Jan. 15 flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, Pope Francis discussed his trip, his recent canonizations, the upcoming encyclical on ecology, and reasonable limits to freedom of expression.
Farsi Catechism translation offers hope of dialogue in Iran
Jan 13, 2015 / 12:27 pmThe publication of the Farsi language edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church may foster further interreligious dialogue in Iran, although this will depend on the commitment of local communities, a Vatican official said.
For Pope Francis, loving concern for the poor is not communism
Jan 12, 2015 / 11:00 amAs Pope Francis stated in a recent interview that love for the poor is not communism, but the Gospel, one of the interview's co-authors asks if the current economic system is “the best possible,” and encourages a discussion of the question.
Religious extremism or fruit of nihilism? Vatican newspaper questions terrorism
Jan 10, 2015 / 06:08 amFollowing the attack on the French magazine 'Charlie Hebdo’, the Vatican's newspaper has commented that behind these ‘inhuman acts’ is an undeclared nihilism, which can be glimpsed through the exaltation of suicide and the evident drive to death.
French imams, Vatican: 'Without freedom of expression, the world is in danger'
Jan 8, 2015 / 11:43 amFrench imams visiting the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue released Thursday a joint communique condemning the attack on Charlie Hebdo and calling for freedom of expression.
Pope Francis is all about the new evangelization, says expert
Jan 8, 2015 / 00:08 amWith a style that meets the need for a new missionary zeal, Pope Francis is representative of the new evangelization, says one theologian and guest speaker for the upcoming annual gathering of Ratzinger's former students.
French imams: Muslims must condemn 'barbaric' attack on newspaper
Jan 7, 2015 / 14:29 pmTwo French imams visiting the Vatican have called on Muslims to respond to the deadly attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo by rising up to express their disgust at the criminals who have “hijacked” their religion.
Vatican condemns 'horrible attack' on French newspaper
Jan 7, 2015 / 12:32 pmPope Francis has voiced his “strongest condemnation” of the “horrible attack” on a French satirical newspaper that published insulting cartoons of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed, and he urged opposition to all hatred and violence.
Top Vatican Official: Washington, NYC likely stops on papal trip
Jan 6, 2015 / 05:38 amAlthough it’s still not official, the Vatican’s Secretary of State confirmed today that Pope Francis will most likely visit Washington D.C. and New York during his visit to the United States.
Fr Lombardi's 'Ten Commandments' for Catholic communications
Dec 19, 2014 / 15:01 pm“To communicate is to unify” is the first of the “Ten Words of Communication” that Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See press office, described in a lecture given Nov. 24 at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.