Vatican
Ancient Greece
The Greek Philosophers ‘Hiding’ in Raphael’s School of Athens
Several of the most influential Greek philosophers and thinkers are portrayed in Raphael's masterpiece the School of Athens which adorns the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
Painted between 1509 and 1511, it depicts a congregation of philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists...
Ancient Greece
Greece Thanks Pope Francis for the Return of Parthenon Fragments
Greece thanked Pope Francis for the return of the Parthenon fragments during a visit to the Vatican by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni on Monday.
The meeting follows the reunification ceremony which took place on last Friday in Athens, which saw...
Ancient Greece
Vatican Returns Parthenon Marbles to Greece
The Vatican and Greece are finalizing a deal for the return of three Parthenon marbles that have been in the collection of the Vatican Museums for two centuries.
The fragments are expected to arrive in Athens later this month, with...
Society
Pope Francis Says Homosexuality Is Not a Crime
Pope Francis has decried laws that criminalize homosexuality as being "unjust" and has called upon Catholic clergy to welcome people who identify as LGBTQ into the Church.
The Pope said that a "distinction" must be drawn between sin and crime....
Europe
Former Pope Benedict XVI Dies at 95
Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health.
He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first...
Life
Pope Francis Reveals Letter of Resignation
Pope Francis has admitted that he prepared a resignation letter in 2013 shortly after being elected pontiff in case medical issues prevented him from conducting his duties.
The resignation was a contingency plan. Francis replaced his predecessor, Benedict XVI after...
Ancient Greece
The Pope Returns Vatican’s Parthenon Marbles to Greece
Pope Francis has decided to send back to Greece the three fragments of Parthenon Marbles that the Vatican Museums have held for centuries, the Vatican announced Friday.
The Vatican termed the gesture a “donation” from the pope to His Beatitude...
Europe
Russia’s Orthodox Church Rules Out Union with Catholic Church
Russia's Orthodox Church dismissed talk of union between Orthodox and Catholic Churches but it confirmed earlier in the week that a meeting between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Pope Francis is possible.
Bishop Hilarion, the Chairman of...
Culture
EU Accused of “Canceling” Christmas
The European Union was forced to retract a controversial document after the Vatican accused Brussels of trying to cancel Christmas by "banning" certain Christian words.
The manual, which is supposed to be used for communications in EU institutions, and which is...
Greek church
Greek Orthodox Priest: “Pope, You Are A Heretic”
A Greek Orthodox priest decried Pope Francis as "a heretic" during the prelate's visit to Athens on Saturday.
The priest shouted in Greek "Pope, you are a heretic" three times as the pope passed a building. Police led the priest...