Latest Rome News

Pope asks Church of Rome to help address housing crisis ahead of Holy Year in 2025

Nov. 15, 2024 14:06 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Friday called on the diocese of Rome to respond to a growing housing crisis in the Eternal City, wading into the debate about rising rental prices that has only grown more acute with Holy Year celebrations in 2025. Francis has written to the city's...

Winston Churchill portrait returns to Ottawa after international art caper

Nov. 15, 2024 13:40 PM EST

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — A stolen portrait of Winston Churchill that was swapped with a forgery during the pandemic has returned to its rightful place, after two Ottawa police detectives traveled to Rome to retrieve it. Police said ”The Roaring Lion" was stolen from the Fairmont...

A criticized Airbnb deal will let users play gladiator in Rome's Colosseum

Nov. 14, 2024 23:02 PM EST

ROME (AP) — The ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights — albeit staged — for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Airbnb that aims to promote “a more conscious tourism.” But some visitors to the monument Thursday,...

Movie Review: 'Gladiator II,' with Denzel Washington, goes back into the arena

Nov. 11, 2024 09:11 AM EST

Rome teeters on the brink in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” Its fall is said to be imminent. The dream it once symbolized is dead. The once high-minded ideals of the Roman Empire have deteriorated across a venal land now ruled by a pale-faced emperor. On the throne is Geta...

Tourists in Rome now have a walkway to visit the Trevi Fountain but can't toss coins

Nov. 09, 2024 12:43 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Tourists in Rome won’t be allowed to toss coins over their shoulders into the Trevi Fountain, following tradition, though an elevated walkway now gives limited access to the monument during maintenance work. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri inaugurated the steel walkway...

One of 8 migrants sent to Albania returned to Italy

Nov. 09, 2024 07:51 AM EST

ROME (AP) — One of the eight migrants brought for processing in an Albanian center after being intercepted in international waters has returned to Italy after being deemed “vulnerable,” a delegation of Italian activists and lawmakers visiting the center said on Saturday. The...

Italy sends another 8 migrants to Albania under processing centers deal

Nov. 08, 2024 07:38 AM EST

SHENGJIN, Albania (AP) — An Italian navy ship docked Friday at the Albanian port of Shengjin with eight migrants who will be processed there after they were intercepted in international waters, a month after another group was turned away for failing the vetting process. It is only...

Italy opens procedure against China's Sinochem for possible breach of Pirelli governance

Nov. 07, 2024 07:02 AM EST

MILAN (AP) — Italy has opened an administrative procedure against China’s Sinochem, the largest shareholder in Italian tiremaker Pirelli, for a possible breach of restrictions designed to protect national strategic assets. Pirelli announced Wednesday that the procedure was...

Italian ship takes migrants to Albania in 2nd test of deal to process claims outside the EU

Nov. 06, 2024 12:57 PM EST

MILAN (AP) — An Italian naval ship carrying migrants was en route Wednesday to Albania to have asylum applications processed under a five-year deal to handle asylum claims outside the European Union’s borders that has already hit a legal roadblock. An Italian interior ministry...

Pope Francis prays in front of graves of unborn children ahead of All Souls' Day Mass

Nov. 02, 2024 10:25 AM EDT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis paid his respects on Saturday to the “Garden of Angels,” an area in Rome’s third largest cemetery which houses the graves of stillborn and miscarried children. Francis celebrated All Souls’ Day Mass at the Laurentino cemetery, on Rome’s southern...