Italy

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The private chapel in the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo.

Castel Gandolfo, the summer home of Popes, opens to the public

Oct 22, 2016

By Elise Harris

Used for centuries as a private summer residence for Popes, the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo has now been opened... Read more

Pope Francis prays at the red zone in Amatrice during a private Oct. 4, 2016, visit to those affected by a massive earthquake in August.

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to Amatrice to pray for earthquake victims

Oct 4, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Tuesday Pope Francis made an unannounced private visit to the small Italian city of Amatrice to offer support  areas... Read more

What is the 'beating heart' of the Church? The Eucharist

Sep 20, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Eucharist is the source of mercy and the beating heart of the Church, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa has... Read more

The funeral Mass of Father Gabriele Amorth, said at Santa Maria Regina degli Apostoli Alla Montagnola, Sept. 19, 2016.

A final farewell to Rome's exorcist: the funeral of Father Amorth

Sep 20, 2016

Hundreds attended the funeral Mass of Father Gabriele Amorth, the exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, on Monday, following his... Read more

Police officers view the remains of a building that was destroyed during an earthquake, on August 25, 2016 in Amatrice, Italy.

Firefighters sent by Pope rescue 3-old-boy after earthquake

Aug 26, 2016

A group of Holy See firefighters sent by Pope Francis to an earthquake-devastated town in Italy rescued a three-year-old boy... Read more

Sister Marjana Lleshi in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Aug. 25, 2016.

The powerful story of a nun who survived Italy's earthquake

Aug 26, 2016

By Elise Harris

Sister Marjana Lleshi awoke in the early hours of Wednesday morning to the violent shaking of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that killed 250 people, devastating several towns in... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis grieves over deadly train crash in Italy

Jul 12, 2016

After a head-on train collision killed 20 people in the southern Italian region of Puglia, Pope Francis voiced his grief... Read more

Pope Francis in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace together with cardinals, June 27, 2015.

This layman who refuted Nazism was declared a martyr by Pope Francis

Jul 8, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Friday Pope Francis moved eight martyrs a step further on the path to sainthood, one of whom is Josef... Read more

Courtesy of the Monastero di San Benedetto.

For these Benedictine monks, to brew well-made beer is to pray

Jun 3, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

A group of Italy-based monks pray and work at their monastery at St. Benedict's birthplace. Now the fruits of their... Read more

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, president of the Italian bishops' conference, at the Vatican, May 2015.

Top Italian cardinal throws punch at new civil unions law

May 18, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

In a powerful speech Tuesday at the opening of the Italian bishops' general assembly, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa decried... Read more

Rome's Trevi Fountain, illuminated red for persecuted Christians.

Blood-red Trevi fountain a wake-up call on Christian persecution

Apr 30, 2016

By Elise Harris

Illuminated by the red light that spilled across Rome’s Trevi fountain, voices from persecuted Christian communities across the world shared... Read more

Pope Francis borrows a railroad worker's cap at a Dec. 19 gathering.

Pope Francis meets with railroad workers--and reminds them of God's mercy

Dec 19, 2015

Pope Francis on Saturday addressed rail workers, remembering the hard and sometimes deadly work that built the railways of Italy.... Read more

The slow demise of Catholic magazines in Italy

Jul 18, 2015

By Andrea Gagliarducci

A Catholic-inspired magazine that was once a leader in publishing opinions in Church discussions will quit publication by the end... Read more

The "Defend our Children" demonstration against a civil unions bill, at the St. John Piazza in Rome, June 20, 2015.

Thousands gather in Rome to support the family, oppose gender theory

Jun 23, 2015

A pro-family demonstration drew hundreds of thousands of participants to Rome on Saturday, where the rally gathered those opposed to... Read more

Mary Rathke (R) speaks at Rome's March for Life, May 10, 2015.

March for Life in Rome draws 40,000 participants

May 10, 2015

By Ann Schneible

One of tens of thousands of people to take to the streets of Rome for this year's March for Life,... Read more

Dante portrait by Domenico di Michelino.

Dante's biggest fans? The 'poet of popes' and his legacy at the Vatican

Mar 20, 2015

By Ann Schneible

With this year marking the 750th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s birth, the Vatican is taking a closer look the author... Read more

Pompeii with Mt Vesuvius in the background.

Here's what the Church in Pompei is doing about the mafia

Mar 15, 2015

By Elise Harris

Archbishop Tommaso Caputo of Pompei said that his diocese has welcomed the Pope’s recent condemnation of organized crime and has... Read more

Sergio Mattarella, who was elected president of Italy Jan. 31, 2015.

Could Italy's new president turn the spotlight on Catholic social teaching?

Feb 2, 2015

Saturday's election of Sergio Mattarella as Italy's president is an affirmation of the social commitment of Catholics in public policy,... Read more

Sr. Cristina sings on

Singing nun's Madonna cover: not like a prayer

Oct 22, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

Although it may have been well intentioned, an Italian nun’s choice of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” as her first single... Read more

Matteo Renzi, prime minister of Italy, is seen at the headquarters of the European Commission, April 2, 2014.

Italian prime minister meets with Vatican Secretary of State

Sep 10, 2014

The newly created Italian cardinals lunched Tuesday with Matteo Renzi, prime minister of Italy, discussing with him and his associates... Read more