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Image: Andrew Medichini/AP Photo/picture alliance/dpa
Vatican
The Vatican is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and its head, the pope.
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All Content on this topic
Pope Francis holds Christmas Eve Mass
The pope has urged "courage" and "tenderness" during Christmas Eve Mass. Prior to his Vatican homily, the pontiff spoke to a Christian refugee camp in Iraq in support of followers persecuted for their faith worldwide.
Pope Francis lambastes Catholic Church
The head of the Catholic Church has issued very strong words against the Vatican's bureaucracy. At a Christmas meeting, he said members of the clergy were "amassing material goods, not out of need, but to feel safe."
The Vatican 'snubs' the Dalai Lama
In an apparent move to avoid conflict with China, the Vatican has said the Pope would not meet the Dalai Lama during his Rome visit. The Tibetan leader is travelling to Italy to participate in a Nobel laureates meeting.
Vatican better off than thought
The Vatican's secretariat for the economy says millions of euros have been found which had been missing from balance sheets. Ongoing reforms aim to make the Catholic church's finances more transparent.
Pope: 'Remember Europe's founders'
Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Pope Francis has urged the EU to remember the aims of its founders. He called on a "united response" to immigration, and "to keep democracy alive."
Femen ladies in leather skirts protest at Vatican - boobs and all
Bare-chested and wearing leather skirts, members of a women's rights activist group gathered at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Friday to … ehm protest. Femen style.
Bayern meet Pope
A delegation from Bayern Munich has enjoyed an audience with Pope Francis at the home of the Catholic Church. The pontiff praised the team for a "wonderful game" on Tuesday against AS Roma.
Pope Paul VI beatified
Pope Paul VI has been beatified at a Mass in the Vatican. Although remembered widely for reaffirming the Catholic Church's ban on artificial contraception, he also left a legacy of reform.
Doctrinal disarray in Vatican text
Catholic bishops have ended their two-week Vatican synod still in disarray on gay union and whether divorcees can receive Communion. Their final document scraps more progressive wording in an earlier draft.
Catholic bishops shift tone in understanding of modern families
A preliminary document released by Roman Catholic bishops has suggested a shift in the Church on family matters. The paper touches on the issues of homosexuality, cohabitation, divorce and contraception.
Frank talk in the Vatican about what church members really want
About 250 mainly male Catholic bishops and cardinals are meeting in the Vatican for closed-door discussions about the role of the family in their church. They're exchanging ideas on how the Catholic Church should deal with various issues. As Megan Williams reports from Rome, church leaders seem to be realizing just how out of touch they’ve been with what the vast majority of church members want.
Rome and reality
Catholics around the world are eagerly awaiting word from the first Synod under Pope Francis.
Catholic Church debates family issues
Pope Francis has launched a two-week meeting at the Vatican to debate current Catholic teachings on family and sexual issues. Divisions within the Church could prevent any far-reaching reforms.
World should cherish the elderly, says pope
At an event attended by former Pope Benedict and stars such as Andrea Bocelli, Pope Francis criticized the treatment of the elderly. He called upon societies to value pensioners and not simply "discard" them.
Pope marries 20 couples, challenges taboos
Pope Francis has performed a wedding ceremony for 20 couples at St. Peter's Basilica. Among the newlyweds were a single mother and couples who were already living together.
Ex-diplomat appeals defrocking
A former Polish archbishop and diplomat has appealed against his defrocking after a Vatican tribunal convicted him of pedophilia. Jozef Wesolowski faces further criminal proceedings in Vatican City and possibly beyond.
Iraq sparks a policy change by the Vatican
This week, the Vatican made the unusual move of approving military intervention… namely, the US air strikes in Iraq. It’s a rare exception to its policy of peaceful conflict resolution and one that comes after criticism that the Vatican was slow to speak out against the atrocities in Iraq. Megan Williams has more from Rome.
Pope in South Korea
Pope Francis has arrived in South Korea, marking the first papal visit to the country in 25 years. During his five-day trip, he will attend a youth festival and meet some of the country's five million Catholics.
Cardinal comes home to Cologne
Rainer Maria Woelki is moving back to his native Cologne to serve as archbishop of Germany's largest Catholic diocese. Despite close ties to his conservative predecessor, Woelki surprised Berlin with his modern outlook.
New Vatican bank chief
The Vatican has announced it has appointed a former French financier as president of its scandal-ridden IOR bank. The new man at the helm said ethical investments will be the focus of the bank's future operations.
Vatican bank chief to go
The Holy See has announced the president of the Vatican bank must leave his post after only 16 months in office. It indicated the move came in the wake of recent efforts to clean up the bank's internal structures.
Francis apologizes to victims
The pope has begged forgiveness from people abused by Catholic clergy in his first meeting with several survivors. Francis noted that the assaults had caused some victims to become addicted to drugs or commit suicide.
Archbishop defrocked
A Catholic archbishop and papal nuncio has been defrocked after his conviction for sexually abusing teenage boys. He is the most senior Vatican figure to be punished for such a crime.
The most popular sights of the world: Shift Ranking of June 25
1. Machu Picchu, Peru / 2. Sheikh Zayed Mosque, UAE / 3. Taj Mahal, India / 4. The Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, Spain / 5. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City/ Source: Tripadvisior
Arabian nights
It's the first of its kind: In the Emirate of Sharjah, the Vatican is exhibiting its treasures.
Praying for peace
Israel's president found fitting words for a historic meeting, writes DW's Christoph Strack.
Historic peace prayer
Israeli and Palestinian leaders have come together at the Vatican to pray for peace. The pope issued the surprise invitation to the two groups while on a visit to the Holy Land last month.
Abbas, Peres and a prayer
The presidents of Palestine and Israel will meet for a Vatican prayer with Pope Franziskus.
Pope Francis in the Middle East
Pope Francis has arrived in Amman for a three-day tour of the Middle East. The trip will give him a firsthand look at the condition of Syrian refugees in Jordan and take him to the occupied West Bank.
UN criticizes the Vatican
The United Nations anti-torture watchdog has called on the Vatican to prosecute all members of the clergy suspected of sexual abuse. The Holy See has rejected the body’s criticism.
Pope on 'economy of exclusion'
Pope on 'economy of exclusion'
Vatican advisory on sexual abuse
After its first meeting at the Vatican, the advisory board on sexual abuse has said it is to develop clear and effective protocols to hold bishops and other church authorities accountable.
Two former popes now saints
Hundreds of thousands of faithful have witnessed the historic canonization of two former popes. Pope Francis and Benedict XVI are honoring their predecessors, John XXIII and John Paul II.
Papal diplomacy
Pope Francis had a good reason to canonize two of his predecessors at the same time.
Canonization of the Popes
Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII have become the two newest saints of the Catholic Church.
Uproar over John Paul II legacy
Less than a week before former Pope John Paul II is to be declared a saint, critics want answers about an abuse scandal involving an order of priests he had championed for years. The Vatican has refuted the claims.
Pope's Urbi et Orbi blessing
Pope Francis has celebrated his second Easter as leader of the Catholic church with thousands of followers in Saint Peter's Square. He called on the warring sides in Syria to negotiate.
Mediation agreed in Venezuela
Venezuela's main opposition group and President Nicolas Maduro's government have agreed to begin talks to end months of unrest. South American foreign ministers and the Vatican will mediate.
Search for freedom
A network of religious leaders has come together to tackle slavery around the world.
Pope, president and poverty
US President Barack Obama has met with Pope Francis at the Vatican for the first time. Obama called himself a "great admirer" of the pontiff and later invited him to visit the White House.
Uniting religions to end slavery
The Global Freedom Network was launched in the Vatican this week, aiming to bring together high ranking religious leaders to stamp out slavery worldwide. It was the idea of Australian billionaire and Walk Free Foundation creator Andrew Forrest, as researcher Gina Dafalia explains.
A very different pope
Francis has shaken things up in the Catholic Church during his first year in the papal office.
Vatican finances under control
Pope Francis has taken a bold step to overhaul control of the Vatican's scandal-plagued finances. He created a special department with a variety of powers to oversee all financial affairs in the future.
Pope appoints new cardinals
Pope Francis has appointed Catholic leaders from some the world’s smallest and poorest nations to the College of Cardinals. Former Pope Benedict XVI also joined the ceremony in a rare public outing.
New cardinals
Pope Francis' choice of cardinals gives poor countries influence, says DW's John Berwick.
Shift Ranking of February 21: The World's Smallest Countries
1. Vatican City (0.44 Sq.km) / 2. Monaco (2 Sq.km) / 3. Nauru (21 Sq.km) / 4. Tuvalu (26 Sq.km) / 5. San Marino (61 Sq.km) / Source: Worldmap
450 years after a genius' death
February 18 marks the 450th anniversary of Renaissance mastermind Michelangelo's death.
UN slams Vatican in report
A UN committee has issued a report assessing Vatican policies concerning children in the wake of worldwide abuse scandals. It said it was "gravely concerned" about how the Church has handled the crisis.
Benedict defrocked 400 priests
The Vatican has confirmed reports that former Pope Benedict XVI defrocked nearly 400 priests for child sex abuse in the last two years of his pontificate - a dramatic increase over previous years.
Vatican UN hearing
John Allen tells DW that reforms are under way at the Vatican, but that more needs to be done.
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