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Holy See

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Holy See. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Vatican City

Head of State

Pope Francis

Head of Government

President of the Governorate Fernando Vérgez Alzaga

A requiem mass for Pope Francis was held at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception on Monday. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong society

Pope Francis cared deeply for ‘church in China’, Hong Kong mourners hear

About 1,000 people flocked to Hong Kong’s main Catholic cathedral for late pope’s requiem mass, including former leaders and current officials.

28 Apr 2025 - 11:40PM

Pope Francis

My Take | Pope’s final message was a vital tenet for our time and for all times

27 Apr 2025 - 5:30AM

My Take

My Take | Wise pope tamed retired Hong Kong bishop and reached out to Beijing

24 Apr 2025 - 6:32AM

Pope Francis

Opinion | The world has lost a pope dedicated to the poor and the planet

From promoting climate justice to supporting migrants, Pope Francis genuinely practised the ‘preferential option for the poor’.

24 Apr 2025 - 9:02AMvideocam

Pope Francis

Editorial | Path of trust to Beijing forged by Francis is there to be followed

During his 12-year papacy, Francis helped stabilise relations between the Vatican and China, and his successor would be wise to build on consensus.

23 Apr 2025 - 8:15AM

China-Vatican relations

China conveys condolences after death of Pope Francis, seeks closer Vatican ties

Future of relations remains uncertain, analysts warn, given unresolved issues and possible policy shifts under the next pope.

22 Apr 2025 - 11:35PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Pope in critical condition with early kidney failure, remains alert as prayers pour in

Doctors have said 88-year-old Francis’ condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.

24 Feb 2025 - 5:29AMvideocam

Pope Francis

Pope Francis to remain in hospital as doctors treat ‘complex’ infection

The 88-year-old pontiff has been suffering from a respiratory infection for more than a week, but the Vatican said he was in ‘good humour’.

18 Feb 2025 - 4:16PM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis taken to hospital for bronchitis after struggling to speak

Francis, 88, has been pope since 2013 and has suffered from influenza and other health problems several times over the past two years.

14 Feb 2025 - 9:26PM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis tells Vatican staff off for gossiping in annual Christmas message

Francis’ message this year revisited a theme he has often warned about: gossiping and speaking ill of people behind their backs.

21 Dec 2024 - 11:10PMvideocam

Pope Francis’ Christmas message this year revisited a theme he has often warned about: gossiping and speaking ill of people behind their backs. Photo: dpa

Environment

Pope Francis joins EV crusade with zero-emission electric Popemobile

Pope Francis, a champion of the environment, will go around in a custom-made electric white Mercedes-Benz Popemobile.

10 Dec 2024 - 4:15PM

Pope Francis receives the new Mercedes-Benz electric Popemobile at the Vatican. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ukraine war

China and Vatican discuss Ukraine peace plan as Russia continues to lose ground

The Holy See and Beijing have both been pushing for an end to the war, with Beijing pushing a six-point plan agreed with Brazil.

16 Aug 2024 - 12:01AMvideocam

Human rights

Vatican’s Pius XII archives shed light on Legionaries of Christ scandal

Archives show the Vatican was cracking down on Reverend Marcial Maciel in 1956 over claims of sexual abuse and financial recklessness.

21 Jul 2024 - 11:15PM

Italy

‘Never intended to offend’: Pope sorry for homophobic slur about gay priests

Pope Francis issued an extraordinary apology on Tuesday after a row over offensive language he was reported to have used to describe gay men.

28 May 2024 - 9:52PM

Pope Francis has apologised after being quoted using a vulgar term about gays regarding the church ban on gay priests. Photo: AFP

China-Vatican relations

Beijing hopes for better ties as Vatican seeks ‘stable presence in China’

Beijing’s pledge comes after Holy See hosts Shanghai bishop for Concilium Sinense centenary, offers to ‘renew and develop’ 2018 deal on appointing bishops.

22 May 2024 - 8:05PMvideocam

Shanghai Bishop Joseph Shen Bin with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in Rome on Tuesday. Photo: AP

United Nations

UN Security Council refers Palestinian full UN member application to committee

The United Nations Security Council said on Monday that it would decide this month on the Palestinians’ bid for full UN membership, with the long-shot campaign unlikely to survive US opposition.

9 Apr 2024 - 11:43AM

Ukraine war

Ukraine summons Vatican envoy over pope’s ‘white flag’ comments

Ukraine has angrily rejected Pope Francis’s suggestion to negotiate with Russia two years after its invasion, vowing ‘never’ to surrender to Moscow

12 Mar 2024 - 11:45AM

Italy

Pope calls for global ban on ‘despicable’ act of surrogacy

Francis said the life of the unborn child must be protected and not “suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking.”

8 Jan 2024 - 8:20PM

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

Catholic Church

Priests should be allowed to get married, says top Vatican official

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who leads Malta’s Catholic Church, said the church was losing people because of its strict celibacy rules.

8 Jan 2024 - 2:20AM

Hong Kong society

Beijing’s top Catholic cleric visits Hong Kong to bolster ties between dioceses

Bishop Joseph Li is on ‘reciprocal visit’, the first by Beijing’s top Catholic cleric since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, following counterpart’s trip to capital.

14 Nov 2023 - 9:56PM

Italy

WWII Pope Pius knew about death camps in 1942, letter suggests

The relationship between Pope Pius XII and Nazi top ranks, especially Adolf Hitler, has long been known, but the recently discovered letter suggests he received regular updates from Germany about the killings.

18 Sep 2023 - 8:42AM

A document from archives on Pope Pius XII, who reigned from 1939-1958, containing the names of people who were executed during a massacre. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Vatican’s Ukraine peace envoy Cardinal Zuppi set for 3-day visit to China

Visit is another step in ‘mission desired by the pope to sustain humanitarian initiatives’ and seek paths leading to ‘a just peace’, the Vatican says.

13 Sep 2023 - 8:15PMvideocam

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi welcomes parishioners after celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow, on June 29. Photo: AP

Mongolia

Pope Francis praises Mongolia but warns of corruption, environmental ruin

The pontiff says Mongolia’s tradition of living in harmony with nature and its creatures ‘can contribute significantly’ to efforts to protect Earth.

2 Sep 2023 - 4:22PM

Mongolia

Pope arrives in Mongolia, a nation of 1,400 Catholics on China’s doorstep

Pope Francis sent a message of ‘unity and peace’ to China as he made his first trip to Buddhist-majority Mongolia.

1 Sep 2023 - 3:21PM

Italy

Shanghai bishop approved by Pope as Vatican chides China for ‘violation’

Pope Francis has named Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to head the vacant Shanghai diocese after China moved him from Jiangsu province earlier this year in an apparent violation of a bilateral pact.

15 Jul 2023 - 10:18PM

Pope Francis has approved Bishop Shen for the Shanghai diocese because he is an “esteemed pastor”, the Vatican said. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong

Editorial | Chow gives boost to reconciliation hopes

On his elevation to cardinal, the head of the Hong Kong Catholic diocese, Stephen Chow Sau-yan, has renewed calls for peace in a divided society and pledged to reach out to mainland China.

13 Jul 2023 - 6:30AM

Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Hong Kong’s Catholic Bishop, meets the media outside the Catholic Diocese Centre. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong politics

New Hong Kong Cardinal Stephen Chow says elevation has given him ‘new mission’

Hongkongers need ‘chance to take a break, reconcile and calm down’, which will require ‘cooperation of many parties’, Chow says

11 Jul 2023 - 10:45AM

Taiwan

Beijing’s trade deals tempt Taipei’s allies in Latin America – but not Pacific

China and Honduras sealed their diplomatic relationship by signing a series of economic agreements and moves towards a free-trade pact.

18 Jun 2023 - 8:00PMvideocam

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