VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has some advice for European banking and development officials trying to help the continent get through its economic and financial crisis.The pontiff says finance and the economy are nothing more than a means to help people realize their full potential and keep their dignity.Benedict told officials of the European Council's Development Bank during a speech S
HAVANA – Roman Catholic leaders announced Friday that Cuban authorities have agreed to free an ill political prisoner and transfer six others to jails nearer home, the latest in a rare series of concessions from a government not known for its tolerance of dissent.The decision means freedom for Ariel Sigler, one of 75 activists, community organizers and journalists arrested in a 2003 crackdo
VATICAN CITY Benedict's pledge was similar to comments he has made in the past.But it was uttered in the highly symbolic setting of a Mass in St.Peter's Square, concelebrated by 15,000 white-robed priests, all marking the end of the Vatican's Year of the Priest -- a year marred by revelations of hundreds of new cases of clerical abuse, coverups in several nations and Vatican inaction to root out
Vatican City, June 11 - Pope Benedict XVI on Fridayissued a public apology for the sex abuse scandals that haverocked the Catholic Church. We insistently ask for forgiveness from God and thepersons involved, the pope told some 15,000 priests from allover the world at a Mass in St Peter's marking the end of theYear of the Priest.The 83-year-old pontiff vowed to do everything possible tomake sure
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI strongly defended celibacy for priests as a sign of faith in an increasingly secular world Thursday, insisting on a church tradition that has increasingy come under scrutiny amid the clerical sex abuse scandal.Benedict didn't directly mention the crisis that has rocked the Catholic Church for months in his comments to some 15,000 priests who massed in St.Pet
Rome, June 10 - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconiand his Spanish counterpart Jose' Luis Rodriguez Zapatero heldtalks here Thursday focusing on protecting the euro fromspeculative attacks.Speaking at a joint press conference, Berlusconi praisedZapatero for his government's adoption of austerity measuressimilar to Italy's moves to deter possible market moves onsovereign debt. We look with great con
Vatican City, June 8 - Italian victims of sexualabuse by Catholic priests are afraid to reveal their identitiesfor fear of repercussions in their private and working lives, aUnited States victims group told a news conference near theVatican Tuesday. We contacted several Italian victims of paedophile priestsand we invited them to come here today but they are terrified, members of the Survivors Net
ROME – Groups that have long demanded that women be ordained Roman Catholic priests took advantage of the Vatican's crisis over clerical sex abuse to press their cause Tuesday, demanding the Vatican open discussions on letting women join the priesthood.Representatives of a half-dozen Catholic reform groups marched on St.Peter's Square on the eve of a three-day rally marking the end of the c