Latest Rome News

For some, the pope's big Holy Year only aggravates housing crisis as overtourism pushes out Romans

Dec. 20, 2024 12:43 PM EST

When Pope Francis left the Vatican earlier this month for his traditional Christmastime outing downtown, he acknowledged what many Romans have been complaining about for months: That his big plans for a Holy Year had turned their city into a giant construction pit, with traffic-clogging roadworks...

Europe's anti-torture watchdog slams Italy over migrant detention abuses

Dec. 13, 2024 12:28 PM EST

ROME (AP) — The Council of Europe's anti-torture committee on Friday released a report criticizing Italy’s treatment of migrants in local detention centers, citing cases of physical ill-treatment, excessive force and the use of psychotropic drugs on detainees. The report by the...

Pope calls for debt reduction for poorer countries to mark the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee Year

Dec. 12, 2024 07:19 AM EST

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Thursday called on wealthy countries and institutions to substantially reduce if not outright cancel debt as a matter of justice on the occasion of the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee Year. In a message for world peace, Francis referred to St. John Paul...

Woman killed in crash as officer responds to threat at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's home

Dec. 10, 2024 13:19 PM EST

ROME, Ga. (AP) — A motorist was killed as police responded to a bomb threat at the Georgia home of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, authorities said. A police officer on the local bomb squad was traveling to the scene when he collided with another car on Monday, Rome police said...

Pope creates 21 cardinals, many of them reformers in their own right, to carry out his reform plans

Dec. 07, 2024 12:33 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday installed 21 new cardinals, many of whom are key figures in his reform agenda: A Dominican preacher who acted as the spiritual father for Francis' recent gathering of bishops, a Neapolitan “street priest” like himself, and a Peruvian bishop who has...

Italy's Meloni and Hungary's Orbán pledge deeper cooperation on migration and Ukraine

Dec. 04, 2024 13:31 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni met her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán on Wednesday in Rome, where the two discussed the situation in the Middle East, their support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and their commitment to the eastern country’s reconstruction. ...

G7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in final G7 of Biden administration

Nov. 25, 2024 14:19 PM EST

FIUGGI, Italy (AP) — Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The top diplomats met for the final time before a new U.S. administration takes office...

Vatican to install a webcam at St. Peter's tomb as part technological outreach for Holy Year

Nov. 25, 2024 07:39 AM EST

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Roman Catholic faithful will be able to view St. Peter’s tomb remotely as part of the Vatican’s technological outreach with its far-flung flock during the upcoming Holy Year. Pope Francis will inaugurate a webcam on Dec. 2 to be installed beneath the main...

The pope will visit Corsica Dec. 15 after skipping Paris reopening of Notre Dame

Nov. 23, 2024 07:21 AM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis will travel to the Mediterranean island of Corsica on Dec. 15, making yet another visit to France that avoids the capital and all the pomp and protocol that accompanies a proper state visit. The one-day visit to the French island region, confirmed Saturday...

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 9 medics in Gaza

Nov. 22, 2024 22:14 PM EST

Israeli airstrikes killed a hospital director at his home in northeastern Lebanon and six others, while at least five paramedics were killed by Israeli strikes in the country's south on Friday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. In Gaza, Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of...