Pope Francis has appointed six women, including the former treasurer for Britain’s Prince Charles, to the council that oversees Vatican finances, naming them in one fell swoop to some of the most senior roles. The appointments to one of the Holy See’s most important offices marked the latest attempt by the pope to keep promises… Read More Pope Francis appoints six women to Vatican financial council
A major fire broke out in the cathedral in the western French city of Nantes on Saturday, blowing out stained glass windows and destroying the grand organ in the 15th-century building, officials said. Prosecutor Pierre Sennes told reporters three fires had been started at the site and authorities were treating the incident as a criminal… Read More Fire incident destroys grand organ, shatters stained glass at cathedral in France
Pope Francis on Saturday held his first audience for a group of people since Italy lifted its coronavirus lockdown, granting it to health workers from the Italian region most affected by the pandemic. “You were one of the supporting pillars of the entire country,” he told doctors and nurses from the Lombardy region gathered in… Read More Pope Francis thanks Italian health workers in first post-lockdown audience
A Myanmar court has sentenced a doctor to 21 months in jail after convicting him of insulting Buddhist monks in connection with a debate about a proposal to teach sex education in schools. Kyaw Win Thant, 31, was arrested in May after angry scenes at a monastery in the central city of Meiktila, where he… Read More Myanmar sentences doctor to 21 months imprisonment for insulting monks over sex education
Nigeria will relax coronavirus restrictions on places of worship from Tuesday, the chairman of the presidential task force for COVID-19 said. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country where Christianity and Islam are widely practised, has recorded 10,162 confirmed cases and 287 deaths. Boss Mustapha, the country’s most senior civil servant, also said a lockdown in the… Read More Nigeria to relax coronavirus restrictions on places of worship from June 2
The Taliban declared a three-day Eid ceasefire starting on Sunday, a spokesman for the hard-line Islamist group wrote in a tweet on Saturday, a move that comes as fighting has intensified between the warring sides despite the coronavirus pandemic. “Do not carry out any offensive operations against the enemy anywhere, if any action is taken… Read More Afghan Taliban declare three-day ceasefire for Eid al-Fitr festivities
India has brought charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the chief of a Muslim seminary for holding a gathering last month that authorities say led to a big jump in coronavirus infections, police said on Thursday. The headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat group in a cramped corner of Delhi were sealed and… Read More India issues homicide charges against Muslim leader for coronavirus surge
Australia’s highest court acquitted former Vatican treasurer George Pell on Tuesday of sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys in the 1990s, freeing the 78-year-old cardinal after 404 days in jail. The Vatican welcomed the decision and praised Pell for having “waited for the truth to be ascertained”. In a statement it said it always had confidence… Read More Australian top court acquits former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell of sexual harassment charges
