Articles by Alessandro Speciale

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Vatican revives its ancient patronage of the arts

May 14, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) For centuries, popes sponsored the work of artists such as Michelangelo, Raffaello or Bernini, who went on to create some of their masterpieces within the very walls of the Vatican.

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Vatican painting may reflect contact with Native Americans

May 10, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

Preservationists working on a Ren­aissance fresco in the Vatican have uncovered what experts believe is the first European representation of Native Americans, created in 1494.

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US anti-abortion leaders join Rome’s March for Life

May 08, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) American anti-abortion leaders will be in Rome on Sunday (May 12) to participate in Italy’s third March for Life and lend their expertise to the nation’s small anti-abortion movement as it tries to learn from its American counterpart.

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Pope Francis welcomes Benedict XVI back to the Vatican

May 03, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican on Thursday (May 2), where he will live a few hundred meters from his successor, Pope Francis, in an arrangement that has no precedent in the history of the Catholic Church.

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Pope Francis redirects employee bonuses to charity

Apr 18, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Vatican employees won't receive the special bonus they are traditionally awarded when a new pope is elected, the Vatican confirmed on Thursday (April 18), under orders from Pope Francis to give extra money to charity instead.

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Pope Francis reconfirms directive to American nuns

Apr 16, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

Nearly a year after the Vatican announced a makeover of the largest umbrella group for American nuns, Pope Francis has directed that the overhaul of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious continue.

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Vatican gets behind adult stem cell research

Apr 10, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Wading into one of the most controversial fields of modern medicine, the Vatican is pushing adult stem cell research as ethical and scientifically more promising than embryonic stem cell research.

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Pope says women in church have a ‘fundamental’ role

Apr 04, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

Pope Francis recently said women play a “fundamental role” in the Catholic Church as those who are mostly responsible for passing on the faith from one generation to the next.

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Vatican defends Pope Francis' washing of women's feet

Mar 31, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican on Friday (March 29) dismissed criticism of Pope Francis' decision to wash the feet of two women during a Maundy Thursday Mass at a Rome youth prison.

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Pope washes feet of two girls, two Muslims at youth prison

Mar 28, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Thursday (March 28) washed the feet of 12 young inmates, including two girls and two Muslims, during a Maundy Thursday Mass at a youth detention center in Rome.

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Muslim convert quits Catholic Church, says it's too weak against Islam

Mar 25, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) A high-profile Italian Muslim who converted to Catholicism and was baptized by Pope Benedict XVI announced on Monday (March 25) that he will leave the church to protest its soft stance against Islam.

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Pope Francis calls for intensified dialogue with Muslims

Mar 22, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Friday (March 22) called for more intense dialogue between religious leaders, particularly Muslims, as he tries to recalibrate relations between the world's two largest religious groups.

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Pope Francis says atheists can be 'allies' for the church

Mar 20, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis extended a hand to those who don't belong to any religion, urging them on Wednesday (March 20) to work with believers to build peace and protect the environment.

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At inaugural Mass, Pope Francis calls for defending environment, poor

Mar 19, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis issued a powerful call for the protection of the environment and of society's most vulnerable during his formal installation Mass at the Vatican, while qualifying his papal power as a "service" to the church and to humanity.

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Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio elected as Pope Francis

Mar 13, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale and Kevin Eckstrom

c. 2012 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope Francis on Wednesday (March 13), after only two days of voting in the conclave tasked with choosing a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

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Cardinals begin conclave to elect the next pope

Mar 12, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The doors of the Sistine Chapel closed behind the cardinals on Tuesday (March 12), marking the official start of the conclave that will elect the successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

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Vatican: Conclave to start on Tuesday

Mar 08, 2013 by David Gibson and Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The conclave to pick a new pope will begin on Tuesday (March 12) the Vatican said Friday, resolving an open question that had dogged the cardinals meeting here over the past week.

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Pope Benedict XVI leaves office, promises 'obedience' to successor

Feb 28, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The papacy of Benedict XVI came to a quiet end at 8 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 28), making him the first pope in 600 years to voluntarily leave office.

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Pope Benedict defends choice to resign in last public address

Feb 28, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

VATICAN CITY (RNS) In his final public address, Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday (Feb. 27) forcefully defended his decision to resign while trying to reassure Catholics still reeling from the shock of his unprecedented move.

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Controversy over Cardinal Mahony's conclave vote reaches Vatican

Feb 21, 2013 by Alessandro Speciale

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The controversy over Cardinal Roger Mahony's vote in the conclave that will elect a new pope has now reached the Vatican, with at least one cardinal musing aloud that the former archbishop of Los Angeles should consider staying home.