Europe Vatican City Failure of education is a cultural genocide that robs children of their future, Pope Francis told the Dicastery for Culture and Education at first Plenary Assembly, and dicasters “are morally obliged” to help 250 million children who do not attend school
Europe Vatican City Addressing COP29 on behalf of Pope Francis and the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin urged urgent climate action, linking environmental protection to peace, justice, and global solidarity, and warning that indifference enables injustice
Europe Vatican City The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors released its first report; after 10 years of extensive research across five continents, it identifies progress in best practices and steps to be take, calls for more transparency and rigorous response
Europe Vatican City The Baldacchino above the tomb of St. Peter was inaugurated after nine months of restoration; from 27 October to 8 December, the ancient Chair of St. Peter will be displayed at the foot of the High Altar before being reinstalled in Bernini's bronze throne
Europe Vatican City Addressing the 79th UN General Assembly on conventional weapons, the Vatican's Permanent Observer reiterates the Holy See’s reprobation for record-high military spending and the plea for its reduction and against developing new deadly weapon technologies
Europe Vatican City The Pope, addressing the role of women in the Church, encouraged Jesuits "not to be afraid of anything" considering that the role of women is changing
Europe Vatican City Pope Francis, speaking of the bombing in Lebanon, declared that disproportionate defence is immoral and - without openly speaking of Israel - suggested that measure was exceeded in its latest actions
Europe Vatican City This Initiative "Capture Nature" is a new addition to the Vatican Museums' family-friendly activities aimed at learning to care for creation through play; the dedicated experience in the the Pope's Gardens offers an engaging tour with quizzes and games
Europe Vatican City For the first time in history, a ship financed by the Italian Catholic Church, the sailing boat Migrantes, assisted the crew of the Mare Jonio during the rescue of 182 migrants shipwrecked in the stretch of sea between Sicily and North Africa
Europe Vatican City As ship Mare Jonio began a migrant search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean, Pope Francis expressed his support for the first mission jointly organised by the Italian Bishops’ Conference and Italian civil society platform Mediterranea Saving Humans
Europe Vatican City Catholic organisations present at the first Catholic Peace Forum in Nagasaki renewed their call for a nuclear-free world, reinforcing the hope that Hiroshima and Nagasaki will remain the last cities to suffer atomic bombings
Europe Vatican City The Holy See officially "deplore the offence caused to so many Christians and believers of other religions" by scenes from the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games
Europe Vatican City Pope Francis expressed the hope that the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games would provide an opportunity for nations at war to respect an ancient Greek tradition and establish a truce for the duration of the Games