Chile

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Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, then-Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, in St. Peter's Square, Feb. 22, 2014.

Cardinal Ezzati leaves Santiago with 'head held high'

Mar 25, 2019

Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, whose resignation as Archbishop of Santiago was accepted Saturday, said he is leaving office “very grateful”... Read more

Fr. Marcio Toniazzon with a group of immigrants.

Migrants are revitalizing the Church in Chile, missionary priest says

Mar 20, 2019

For six years, Fr. Marcio Toniazzo has worked as the director of immigration services for the Archdiocese of Santiago in... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Chilean bishops in Rome, May 2018.

Pope Francis meets with Chilean bishops to discuss abuse crisis

Jan 14, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis met for three hours Monday with leaders of the Chilean bishops’ conference, as the bishops face a sexual... Read more

Bishop Fernando Ramos. Screenshot.

Chilean bishops' president names delegate to replace him at papal meeting

Jan 2, 2019

At the Vatican summit to discuss sex abuse next month, the secretary general of the Chilean Bishops Conference will take... Read more

Chilean court: Private health facilities can't be forced to do abortions

Dec 17, 2018

A Chilean court has ruled that private healthcare facilities may conscientiously object to abortions, declaring unconstitutional a law that had... Read more

Chilean president Sebastian Pinera.

Chilean president signs gender identity law

Nov 29, 2018

Chilean president Sebastián Piñera signed into law Wednesday a bill permitting people aged 14 or older to change their name... Read more

Procession to commemorate the first Mass in Chile.

Celebrations begin for 500th anniversary of first Mass in Chile

Nov 15, 2018

A Eucharistic procession through the Patagonian city of Punta Arenas launched the 500th anniversary commemorations of the first Mass celebrated... Read more

The flag of Chile.

Karadima victims file complaint against Cardinal Errázuriz

Nov 1, 2018

Three victims of former Chilean priest Fernando Karadima filed a complaint last week against Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, accusing... Read more

Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago.

Ezzati declines to answer questions in Chilean abuse probe

Oct 4, 2018

Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago exercised his legal right to silence Wednesday after being summoned for questioning by a state... Read more

The flag of Chile.

Santiago archdiocese creates lay-led commission to address abuse cases

Sep 27, 2018

Amid the crisis facing the Church in Chile regarding sexual and other forms of abuse, the Archdiocese of Santiago has... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Chilean bishops in Rome, May 2018.

Pope accepts resignation of two more Chilean bishops

Sep 21, 2018

The removal of Bishop Carlos Pellegrín Barrera of Chillán and Bishop Cristián Contreras Molina of San Felipe was confirmed in... Read more

Elena Donaire (R) prepares food for the homeless in Santiago.

This 87-year-old woman feeds the homeless in Chile every week  

Sep 17, 2018

Every Wednesday night, 87-year-old Elena Donaire goes out onto the streets of Santiago, Chile, to meet the homeless and attend... Read more

Chilean flag in the Court of St. Damasso during the arrival of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on June 5, 2015.

Chilean Senate passes bill allowing minors to change legal gender

Sep 7, 2018

The Chilean Senate has passed a gender identity bill that would allow minors as young as 14 to change their... Read more

Chile's National Migrant Day.

Chilean Church celebrates National Day of the Migrant

Sep 6, 2018

The Church in Chile’s capital celebrated the National Day of the Migrant September 2 with a Mass of Thanksgiving and... Read more

Pope Francis meets with 34 Chilean bishops in Vatican city, May 15, 2018.

Chilean officials raid bishops' conference amid abuse investigation

Aug 14, 2018

Officials of the Investigative Police of Chile (PDI) raided Tuesday the offices of the Chilean bishop’s conference to seize information... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Chilean bishops in the sacristy of the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral, Jan. 16, 2018.

Chilean bishops' efforts to prevent sex abuse affirmed by Pope Francis

Aug 6, 2018

Pope Francis on Friday wrote to the Chilean bishops' conference to express his approval of their newly-adopted plan to prevent... Read more

Efforts to broaden abortion legalization continue in Chile

Aug 5, 2018

Pro-life groups in Chile are criticizing efforts to legalize abortion for any reason up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.  Read more

Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago de Chile greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square

Chilean cardinal to be questioned by prosecutors over abuse cover-up

Jul 25, 2018

Cardinal Enrico Ezzati, Archbishop of Santiago, has been summoned by local authorities to answer questions about the ongoing sexual abuse... Read more

The flag of Chile.

Chilean bishops express concern over number of sex abuse victims

Jul 25, 2018

After the Chilean prosecutor's office announced that it has compiled a list of 266 victims of sexual abuse by Church... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square after the Wednesday general audience, June 1, 2016.

Pope Francis accepts the resignation of two more Chilean bishops

Jun 28, 2018

By Elise Harris

In his latest move on the Chilean clerical abuse crisis, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Horacio del... Read more