Vatican Financial News

VATICAN CITY -Pope Francis, widely quoted as having used a highly derogatory word to describe the LGBT community, did not intend to use homophobic language and apologises to anyone offended by it, the Vatican said on Tuesday. It is extremely rare for a pope to issue a public apology.

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis used a highly derogatory term towards the LGBT community as he reiterated in a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops that gay people should not be allowed to become priests, Italian media reported on Monday. La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, Italy's largest circulation dailies, both quoted the pope as saying seminaries, or priesthood colleges, are already too full of "frociaggine", a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as «faggotness».

Also Read: Indian chef Padam Vyas seen with empty stall in Australia; netizens react, ‘What a shame’At the age of 15, Carlo Acutis died of leukaemia in 2006. He was beatified four years ago after it was the Vatican found that a boy recovered miraculously from a disease days after touching Acutis' t-shirt.The millennial, who died in 2006, became popular among the masses for using technology to propagate religion. Carlo Acutis was born in London on May 3, 1991.

ALSO READ: Earth had close shave with over 100 Vatican City, Burj Khalifa-sized asteroids in 2023: NASA's top targets unveiled 1. Asteroid 2024 GV3: Among the five asteroids, this asteroid will make the closest approach to Earth on Saturday. It will fly past at a distance of 5,10,000 km from Earth.

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis made renewed calls on Easter Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages in a peace-focused address marking the most important day on the Christian calendar. Francis presided over Mass in a packed St Peter's Square, and then delivered his «Urbi et Orbi» (to the city and the world) blessing and message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

Joe Biden is facing criticism from Donald Trump's campaign and religious conservatives for proclaiming March 31 — which corresponds with Easter Sunday this year — as "Transgender Day of Visibility". The Democratic president issued the proclamation on Friday, calling on «all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity». But in 2024, the March 31 designation overlaps with Easter, one of Christianity's holiest celebrations. Trump's campaign accused Biden, a Roman Catholic, of being insensitive to religion, and fellow Republicans piled on.

Union home ministry has revoked the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of prominent think tank Indian Social Institute (ISI), citing alleged violation of rules, said officials. The institute, set up in 1951, critically analysed the National Education Policy 2020 in its journal, Social Action, published in 2023. Social Action is listed in the University Grants Commission Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics as an approved social science journal, as per ISI. When contacted, a representative from ISI declined to comment. The journal, on the topic of 'Peace and Conflict', published in 2023, discussed the ethnic violence in Manipur and «unresolved political aspirations of people in Kashmir and Nagaland».

By Alvise Armellini

Catch all the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Live UpdatesView

Ram Mandir inauguration at Ayodhya has caught the keen interest of Hindu devotees worldwide and with it, a ripe opportunity for businesses and investors across India. The Rs 85,000 crore makeover is expected to transform the ancient holy city into a global religious hotspot, bringing with it a host of economic goodwill.

Kangana Ranaut, amidst the star-studded congregation for the inauguration of the Ram Mandir, shared her thoughts, expressing her awe at the historic event. The 50-meter-tall shrine dedicated to Lord Ram Lalla stands tall on the site where the Babri Masjid once stood, symbolising a monumental moment in history.

Pope Francis called Monday for a universal ban on what he called the “despicable” practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the “commercialization” of pregnancy in an annual speech listing threats to global peace and human dignity.

Ram Mandir inauguration: All three idols of Ramlala ready, says Trust member Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a few days ago, appealed to the people to light special 'diyas' in their homes on January 22 to celebrate the day of 'pran pratishtha' at the Ram temple as 'Diwali'. Prime Minister Modi visited the temple town on December 30 during which he held a roadshow, inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and the newly built airport, and laid the foundation stone for a slew of other projects.

VHP warns of QR code scam ahead of Ram Mandir event in Ayodhya "Invitations are only extended to those who are devotees of Lord Ram. It is totally wrong to say that the BJP is fighting in the name of Lord Ram, our PM is respected everywhere. He has done immense work under his tenure.

2024 with a fireworks display in Auckland on Monday. The fireworks illuminated the cloudy night sky and were accompanied by a laser light and animation show. Here's how some other places and people around the world were bidding farewell to 2023 and welcoming the New Year.

OSIRIS-REx is now "already well on its way with a new name to explore a new destination (Apophis)", the NASA said. In a statement on December 22, the US space agency said, "The former OSIRIS-REx spacecraft sets off on a (seven-year, 4 billion-mile journey) journey to study asteroid Apophis and take advantage of the asteroid’s 2029 flyby of Earth, the likes of which hasn’t happened since the dawn of recorded history." When Apophis was discovered in 2004, the asteroid was gained notoriety as one of the most hazardous asteroids that could impact Earth.

In October 2023, Pope Francis allowed women to vote at the Synod of Bishops for the first time. Allowed to attend only as observers in the past, five religious sisters were allowed to vote at the Papal advisory body in a momentous shift for the Roman Catholic Church, which has been male-dominated for centuries. With this historic move, Vatican City became the last country in the world to give its women the right to vote.

Vatican City: Pope Francis said in his Christmas message on Monday that children dying in wars, including in Gaza, are the "little Jesuses of today" and that Israeli strikes there were reaping an "appalling harvest" of innocent civilians. In his Christmas Day "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and world) address, Francis also called the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants "abominable" and again appealed for the release of around 100 hostages still being held in Gaza.

By Philip Pullella

Ryugu asteroid and Murchison meteorite. They found that certain are PAHs "likely to be formed in the cold areas of space between stars, rather than in hot regions near stars as was previously thought", Curtin University said in a report.

Pope Francis has officially allowed the blessing of same-sex couples, outlining a significant shift in Vatican policy. The newly released document from the Vatican's doctrine office, which expands on a letter sent by Francis to two conservative cardinals in October, emphasizes that individuals seeking God's love and mercy should not be subjected to an exhaustive moral analysis for its reception. The document suggests that under certain conditions, such blessings may be extended without conflating the ritual with the sacrament of marriage. The latest document reiterates the underlying reasoning and provides further details, emphasizing the belief that marriage is a sacred lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. It underscores the notion that blessings should not coincide with a civil union, advocating against employing specific rituals, attire, or gestures associated with weddings.