A Vatican Observer

Pope Francis smiles as he walks by a crowd at the World Meeting of Popular Movements in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 9, 2015 -

Pope Francis: the Latin American model as a way out of the coronavirus crisis

A Vatican Observer

Apr 21, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis’s Letter to Popular Movements on Easter Sunday epitomizes his social thought, which is deeply rooted in the Latin... Read more

The icon of Mary Health of the Sick in the Lithuanian shrine of Siluva -

Lithuania, the "map of light" against coronavirus from the shrine of Siluva

A Vatican Observer

Apr 19, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

We’ve become way too familiar with the maps, whose spots mark the places where the COVID-19 pandemic has struck. The... Read more

The Institute for Religious Works -

Vatican's revamped financial watchdog: where it's come from and what's in store

A Vatican Observer

Apr 16, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The appointment of  a new director of the Vatican Financial Intelligence Authority (AIF) moves the Vatican path toward financial transparency... Read more

Pope Francis arrives for the afternoon session of the Amazon Synod at the entrance of the Vatican's Synod Hall, October 15, 2019. /

Pope Francis and the discussion on women deacons: looking for a lateral way of thinking

A Vatican Observer

Apr 9, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis promised it at the end of the Special Synod on the Amazon: he would create a commission on... Read more

Caritas Internationalis in action to help countering the coronavirus -

Coronavirus: the response of Caritas Internationalis

A Vatican Observer

Apr 7, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

In countering the Coronavirus, Pope Francis can count on the effort of the Caritas agencies spread all over the continent,... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on Nov. 25, 2014 -

Will religious freedom be safeguarded in Europe?

A Vatican Observer

Mar 24, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Despite major successes, the EU let the office of the Special Envoy for the promotion of Religious Freedom and Belief... Read more

Vatican City flag from the view of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy on March 12, 2015 -

What does Pope Francis’s reform of the Vatican judicial system mean?

A Vatican Observer

Mar 17, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis' reform of the Vatican City State judicial system is mostly insider stuff. A look under the hood of... Read more

The Apostolic Palace -

Pope Francis back and forth reform: the centralized personnel office

A Vatican Observer

Mar 10, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

It turns out, a motu proprio by Pope Francis will be needed after all, to make effective the General Directorate for Personnel... Read more

A session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva -

The Holy See slams UN Report on religious freedom

A Vatican Observer

Mar 4, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Holy See has attacked the latest UN report on religious freedom. Decrying particularly the document's many references to gender... Read more

Pope Pius XII -

Will Pius XII's archives shed light on origins of Vatican Ostpolitik?

A Vatican Observer

Mar 2, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The opening of the archives on Pius XII’s pontificate could show that the Vatican's so-called Ostpolitik began much earlier than... Read more

A flyer from one of the Ateitis congresses -

Lithuanian Ateitis Federation shows how a group of young people can have an impact on society

A Vatican Observer

Feb 20, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Five principles, a motto, a name — which means  ”future” in Lithuanian — and 110 years of history: on Feb.... Read more

The headquarters of the Institute for Religious Works, the so-called Vatican bank -

What is behind the acquittal of two former Vatican officials?

A Vatican Observer

Feb 16, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

An Italian appeal court gave its verdict in a criminal case against two former officials of the Holy See’s Institute... Read more

Pope Francis led the opening procession of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region from St. Peter's Basilica to the Synod Hall where he led the opening prayer, Oct. 7, 2019.

Amazonian Synod, what if the key is not celibacy?

A Vatican Observer

Feb 4, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Recent reports claiming some basis in a leaked draft of the post-Amazonian synod exhortation raised fresh and further fears Pope... Read more

Pope Francis greets Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco at the end of an audience -

Pope Francis, what is his project for the Church in Italy?

A Vatican Observer

Jan 30, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The selection of new bishops has been a central topic of discussion during the meetings of the C6 Council of... Read more

July 5, 2015. Papal flight from Rome, Italy to Quito, Ecuador on July 5, 2015 - Alan Holdren / CNA

Will Pope Francis’s year be marked by ecumenical trips?

A Vatican Observer

Jan 28, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis has not officially scheduled any trips for 2020. In his traditional new year’s speech to the diplomatic corps... Read more

Pope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Dec. 21, 2018.

Benedict XVI – Sarah’s book: What if the real issue is the lack of institutional thinking?

A Vatican Observer

Jan 16, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The draft of the Curia reform, Praedicate Evangelium, does not even mention the office of the Pope emeritus. It is as... Read more

Pope Francis walks through St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Oct. 30, 2019 /

2020, all Pope Francis’ men

A Vatican Observer

Jan 8, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

2020 seems to be the year in which Pope Francis will be able to change the Curia profoundly, along with... Read more

Jan Figel during a speech -

Europe needs a "climate change on religious freedom," says EU Special Envoy

A Vatican Observer

Dec 17, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

According to the latest report of the Observatory on Intolerance and discrimination Against Christians in Europe, there have been in... Read more

Cardinal Tagle at a press Conference on Share the Journey, a Caritas International initiative, Holy See Press Office Sep. 27 2017 -

Pope Francis, does the appointment of Tagle at Propaganda Fide begin the race for the next conclave?

A Vatican Observer

Dec 11, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis on Sunday appointed the 62-year-old Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization... Read more

The Institute for Religious Works, or 'Vatican bank'. (File Photo/CNA).

Vatican finances, how did the IOR work?

A Vatican Observer

Nov 13, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

How did the Institute for Works of Religion work in real estate investments? The question is pertinent to two major... Read more