HISTORICAL FACTS: 15 | History Defined

Pope Francis fuels new speculation on future of pontificate

Pope Francis has added fuel to rumors about the future of his pontificate

The Independent UK · Jun 5, 2022

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican power broker for decades under two popes, dies at 94

Cardinal Angelo Sodano — a controversial Vatican power broker for more than a quarter of a century who was accused of covering up one of the Catholic Church's most notorious sex abusers — dies at the age of 94.

ABC News · May 28, 2022

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican power who dismissed sexual abuse, dies

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a controversial Vatican power broker for more than a quarter of a century who was accused of covering up one of the Catholic Church's most notorious sex abusers, has died at the age of 94.

Reuters · May 28, 2022

Pope Francis' visit to Malta highlights the role of St. George Preca, an advocate for teaching the gospel

Pope Francis’ two-day visit to the tiny European country of Malta, a strongly Catholic island just south of Sicily, in April, 2022 put a spotlight on Malta’s complicated history and important contemporary concerns. Chief among these is the sharp increase in the number of asylum-seekers from Africa and the Middle…

The Conversation · Apr 1, 2022

First Nations meet with pope over Canada school abuses

Pope Francis has welcomed a First Nations delegation to the Vatican

The Independent UK · Mar 31, 2022

Survivors of Canada’s residential schools to seek apology from Pope Francis

Indigenous delegation is demanding an apology for the church’s role in the government-funded schools

The Independent UK · Mar 28, 2022

Canadian Indigenous leaders to meet pope over school abuse

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI met with a First Nations delegation from Canada and privately expressed regret over abuse suffered by Indigenous children at church-run boarding schools

The Independent UK · Mar 26, 2022

Benedict woes come as German church reform pressure rises

A report on decades of sexual abuse in Germany that shone an unflattering spotlight on retired Pope Benedict XVI has come on top of already strong pressure in Germany to reconsider Catholic rules on issues including homosexuality and women’s roles

The Independent UK · Feb 9, 2022

Ex-pope asks for forgiveness over abuse scandal

Ex-pope Benedict XVI asked for forgiveness Tuesday for clerical child sex abuse committed on his watch, but aides rejected allegations of a cover-up while he was archbishop of Munich.

Bangkok Post · Feb 8, 2022

Former Pope Benedict acknowledges 'errors occurred' in handling of Munich abuse allegations

Former Pope Benedict on Tuesday acknowledged that errors occurred in the handling of sexual abuse cases while he was Archbishop of Munich decades ago but did not directly address allegations in a report that he mishandled four cases.

Reuters · Feb 8, 2022