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Two allegorical female figures portraying the virtues of Friendship and Justice in the Room of Constantine at the Vatican Museums are by Italian Renaissance master Raphael, the weekly Vatican Magazine reported on Friday. The weekly televised program broadcast the first images of Comitas, friendship in Latin, which has just been restored, and the fi...

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Italy’s oldest native-born nun, Candida Bellotti, celebrated her 110th birthday with best wishes from Pope Francis and valuable tips for those wanting to live a long life. “Love, love and keep on loving. With joy!” the nun said as she marked the big milestone on Monday (Feb. 20) at the convent where she lives in the Tuscan town of Lucca. “Have fait...

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The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the most famous frescoes in the world unsurprisingly it's one of Rome's most visited and valued historic sites. Set within the Vatican City and Museums, the Sistine Chapel welcomes around 25,000 visitors a day who flock to see Michelangelo's masterpiece and marvel at the feat of artistry.   As came...

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Obama will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on March 27th to discuss poverty and inequality, the White House said in a statement. While in Rome he will also meet Letta and Napolitano.   The visit is part of a wider Europe trip, which includes a US-EU summit in Brussels on March 26th, when Obama will meet with Herman Van Rompuy, presiden...

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Proponents of a female priesthood say frescoes in the newly restored Catacombs of Priscilla prove there were women priests in early Christianity. The Vatican says such assertions are sensationalist "fairy tales".   The catacombs, on Rome's Via Salaria, have been fully reopened after a five-year project that included laser technology to clean...

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By Greg Garrison   Alabama-based EWTN Global Catholic Network has launched ACI Stampa, a new Rome-based Italian-language Catholic news agency that will be led by Vatican journalist Angela Ambrogetti. The new service was introduced on Thursday, Sept. 10 at an event held adjacent to the Vatican press center in Rome.   "I am pleased to a...

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By Andrew Ragali Local resident Jerry Farrell Jr. was recently knighted by Italian royalty.Farrell, a former town councilor, was named a Knight Official of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus during a visit to Vatican City earlier this month. The honor was bestowed upon Farrell by Prince Victor Emmanuel IV of Savoy, the head of the Italian roy...

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The history of the Vatican's Swiss Guard can be traced back to the 16th century Renaissance when the soldiers were call upon due to their qualities of loyalty and courage. Pope Julius II declared the troops "Defenders of the Church's Freedom" in 1512. Since then, they have been stationed at the Vatican to protect each and every pope. Gianfranco Pa...

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On Feb. 3, the Vatican opened the Roman Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis to the public for the first time. The ancient burial ground dates back to the first century B.C. when it was the place of final rest for local Romans. The 10,000-square-foot site was originally uncovered during the 1950s during construction of a new parking garage underneath...

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An Italian journalist's behind-the-scenes account of conflict between Pope Francis and opponents in the Vatican will be published in the U.S. on Nov. 10. Henry Holt and Co. announced Thursday that it had acquired U.S. rights to Gianluigi Nuzzi's "Merchants in the Temple: Inside Pope Francis' Battle Against Corruption in the Vatican."  ...

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