Tag archives: Italy

Pope Francis apologises for having to be socially distant from flock
October 15, 2020 By Faith Matters

Pope Francis apologises for having to be socially distant from flock

Pope Francis apologised to the faithful for not being able to greet them and shake their hands as Italy posted a record spike in coronavirus infections that is threatening to once again spiral out of control. Instead of wading into the crowd to embrace the sick and kiss babies during his weekly general audience on […]

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French minister likens Italy’s Salvini to Pontius Pilate over migrants
September 26, 2018 By Faith Matters

French minister likens Italy’s Salvini to Pontius Pilate over migrants

A French minister on Wednesday accused Italy’s anti-immigration interior minister, Matteo Salvini, of behaving “like Pontius Pilate”, the Roman official who washed his hands of the fate of Jesus Christ. Relations between Paris and Rome have soured since Italy’s new government took office in June and immediately moved to close its ports to charity ships […]

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Steve Bannon drafting curriculum for right-wing Catholic institute in Italy
September 19, 2018 By Faith Matters

Steve Bannon drafting curriculum for right-wing Catholic institute in Italy

Former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon is helping to craft the curriculum for a leadership course at a right-wing Roman Catholic institute in Italy, stepping up his efforts to influence conservative thinking in the church. Benjamin Harnwell, director of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute based in a mountaintop monastery not far from Rome, told Reuters […]

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Sting blasts leaders as ‘cowards’ over migration crisis
June 24, 2018 By Faith Matters

Sting blasts leaders as ‘cowards’ over migration crisis

British singer and actor Sting called world leaders “half men and cowards” on Saturday for their inability to solve the refugee crisis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already played down expectations of a breakthrough at hastily-arranged talks among EU leaders on Sunday on the migration dispute dividing Europe and threatening her own government. Austrian Vice […]

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Italian interior minister wants census of Roma communities
June 19, 2018 By Faith Matters

Italian interior minister wants census of Roma communities

Italy’s new government plans to carry out a census of the Roma community with an eye to kicking out anyone staying in the country illegally, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday. “Unfortunately we will have to keep the Italian Roma because we can’t expel them,” Salvini, who is head of the far-right League, told […]

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Migrants rescued off Libyan coast
August 19, 2016 By Faith Matters

Migrants rescued off Libyan coast

Dozens of migrants bound for Italy are rescued off the Libyan coast by a Spanish volunteer rescue ship, including one boat that is in the middle of sinking. A dramatic rescue at sea. Migrants bound for Italy plucked out of the sea after their dingy sank off the Libyan coast. Later they sit safely aboard […]

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Between 700-900 migrants may have died at sea this week – NGOs
May 29, 2016 By Faith Matters

Between 700-900 migrants may have died at sea this week – NGOs

Migrant Numbers Dying in Crossings Highlights Human Catastrophe At least 700 migrants may have died at sea this past week in the busiest week of migrant crossings from Libya towards Italy this year, Medecins San Frontieres and the UN Refugee agency said on Sunday. About 14,000 have been rescued since Monday amid calm seas, and […]

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