In the letter, Francis reveals that Benedict was the first to inform him of the sad news.

The late-evening statement signaled the Vatican’s wish to let the whole world know that it fundamentally disagrees with any annexation.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has appointed a special commissioner to modernize and reorganize those same administrative and technical offices, improve transparency, and update their statutes.

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, the older brother of Benedict XVI, died on July 1 at the age of 96.

Vatican officials said the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon aims to be “an effective channel for taking up, from within the territory, many of the proposals that emerged” at the Pan-Amazonian synod.

Peter and Paul, Pope Francis noted, provide valuable role models to encourage us toward unity and prophecy.

Both prayers and economic assistance, Pope Francis stressed, are needed to ameliorate the ongoing humanitarian catastrophes in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

At the Church of the Gesú in Rome, Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., ordained 18 deacons and two priests who have been studying in Rome.

“The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the need to ensure the necessary protection for refugees.”

“You have been one of the pillars of the whole country,” the pope said in his first public audience since lockdown.