About: Pope Francis
World COVID-19 cases top 6 million as leaders disagree on pandemic response
The number of coronavirus cases worldwide topped six million Sunday (31 May), with Brazil registering another record surge in daily infections as divisions deepened on how to deal with the pandemic.
Global conspiracies, local panics
The COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting societies, economies, families and persons alike, is compounded by a global contagion of rumours, conspiracies, fake news and other deadly narratives that, despite their appearance of being tailored to fit local characteristics, are strikingly similar at a transnational level, writes Alina Bargaoanu.
Pope Francis: EU is facing epochal challenge on which depends the future of the world
Pope Francis prayed for tens of thousands of coronavirus victims in an unprecedented livestream Easter Sunday message delivered from a hauntingly empty Vatican to a world under lockdown.
Pope says Italy tax dodgers bear partial blame for virus health care crisis
Pope Francis has put a further spotlight on the Italian health services' struggle to cope with the coronavirus outbreak, by backing a prominent journalist's complaint that tax dodgers were partly to blame.
Pope Francis calls for ‘radical energy transition’ to stem global warming
Pope Francis said on Friday (14 June) that carbon pricing is “essential” to stem global warming – his clearest statement yet in support of penalising polluters – and appealed to climate change deniers to listen to science.
Pope pleads for European unity, warns against fear-mongers
Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for Europe to stick together and revive the ideals of its founders on Sunday (2 June), saying ideologies and fear-mongering politicians were threatening its very existence as a bloc.
Romanians prepare for Pope’s visit at times of domestic upheaval
Pope Francis travels on Friday (31 May) to Romania, giving him another opportunity to preach a message of European integration and political rectitude even as he pays tribute to Christians killed during the communist era.
In North Macedonia, Pope urges Balkans to embrace diversity
Pope Francis urged the Balkans to embrace its patchwork of faiths and ethnicities during his visit to North Macedonia on Tuesday (7 May), where he delivered prayers and speeches that kept returning to the legacy of an illustrious Skopje native: Mother Teresa.
Pope Francis asks Bulgarians to ‘open hearts’ to migrants
Pope Francis urged Bulgarians to open their hearts and doors to refugees as he began a visit to the European Union's poorest country, where the main Orthodox Church snubbed holding joint prayers with the pontiff.
Malta demands EU solution before migrants disembark
Malta is pushing other European countries to take in around 250 migrants in its care before it will allow dozens of people stuck on two rescue boats to disembark, a government source said Tuesday (8 January).
Pope urges EU to show ‘solidarity’ with migrants stranded off Malta
Pope Francis on Sunday (6 January) urged EU leaders to show "concrete solidarity" with 49 migrants stranded on NGO ships off the coast of Malta who have been refused permission to land.
Catholic bishops call for faith in 1.5°C Paris target
Church leaders urged governments around the world to ramp up their climate action efforts on Friday (26 October), calling for “ambitious implementation” of the Paris Agreement.
Pope and Macron hold ‘intense’ meeting at Vatican
French President Emmanuel Macron held an "intense" meeting with Pope Francis during his first official visit to the Vatican yesterday (26 June), discussing global issues including the fate of migrants coming to Europe.
Erdogan in Rome: Let Turkey be full EU member
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has rejected proposals of a partnership with the EU, insisting full membership to the bloc is the only option, in an interview published Sunday (4 February).
Erdogan and Macron take lead in urging US to turn back on Jerusalem decision
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and France's Emmanuel Macron will work together to try to persuade the United States to reconsider its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a Turkish presidential source said on Saturday (9 December).
Polish MP accuses Juncker of ‘alcohol dependency’
Krystyna Pawlowicz, a Polish MP from the ruling Eurosceptic PiS party, has written a letter to the Jean-Claude Juncker, accusing him of “alcohol dependency”. She also called “distasteful” the fact that Juncker apparently took a nap in the Vatican over the celebration of the EU’s 60’th anniversary.
Rome: A common declaration but no miracle cure
Finding common ground for the EU’s declaration on the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome is proving difficult. The bloc’s objective is to “confirm that the EU is the right answer” but one diplomat said there was no “miracle cure” for the Union’s woes. EURACTIV France reports.
Pope Francis to share wisdom with EU leaders ahead of Rome summit
EU heads of state and government are planning to meet with Pope Francis in Rome on 24 March, ahead of the summit expected to provide a vision for the future of the EU after Brexit, diplomats told EURACTIV.com.
Merkel shuns CSU conference for first time
Angela Merkel’s junior coalition partner, the CSU, has closed ranks with Austria at its party conference, particularly when it comes to refugee policy, as integration concerns increase. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Kosovo still dreams of EU and NATO membership
Kosovo's foreign affairs minister has reaffirmed his country's ambitions to join both NATO and the European Union, in an interview with EURACTIV Spain.
Pope urges ‘stable peace’ on visit to Azerbaijan
Pope Francis yesterday (2 October) called for a "stable peace" as he visited mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, several months after pushing for an end to a festering territorial feud while in arch-foe Armenia.
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, former Italian president and premier, dies
Former Italian president, prime minister and central bank governor Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who played a key role in guiding the country into the European single currency, has died, the government said on Friday (16 September).
From Armenia, Pope Francis urges regional reconciliation
Pope Francis urged Armenia and Turkey on Saturday (25 June) to seek reconciliation over the Armenian genocide which took place one century ago, and Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.