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Image: Andrew Medichini/AP Photo/picture alliance/dpa
Vatican
The Vatican is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and its head, the pope.
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All Content on this topic
Uproar over John Paul II legacy
Less than a week before former Pope John Paul II is to be declared a saint, critics want answers about an abuse scandal involving an order of priests he had championed for years. The Vatican has refuted the claims.
Pope's Urbi et Orbi blessing
Pope Francis has celebrated his second Easter as leader of the Catholic church with thousands of followers in Saint Peter's Square. He called on the warring sides in Syria to negotiate.
Mediation agreed in Venezuela
Venezuela's main opposition group and President Nicolas Maduro's government have agreed to begin talks to end months of unrest. South American foreign ministers and the Vatican will mediate.
Search for freedom
A network of religious leaders has come together to tackle slavery around the world.
Pope, president and poverty
US President Barack Obama has met with Pope Francis at the Vatican for the first time. Obama called himself a "great admirer" of the pontiff and later invited him to visit the White House.
Uniting religions to end slavery
The Global Freedom Network was launched in the Vatican this week, aiming to bring together high ranking religious leaders to stamp out slavery worldwide. It was the idea of Australian billionaire and Walk Free Foundation creator Andrew Forrest, as researcher Gina Dafalia explains.
A very different pope
Francis has shaken things up in the Catholic Church during his first year in the papal office.
Vatican finances under control
Pope Francis has taken a bold step to overhaul control of the Vatican's scandal-plagued finances. He created a special department with a variety of powers to oversee all financial affairs in the future.
Pope appoints new cardinals
Pope Francis has appointed Catholic leaders from some the world’s smallest and poorest nations to the College of Cardinals. Former Pope Benedict XVI also joined the ceremony in a rare public outing.
New cardinals
Pope Francis' choice of cardinals gives poor countries influence, says DW's John Berwick.
Shift Ranking of February 21: The World's Smallest Countries
1. Vatican City (0.44 Sq.km) / 2. Monaco (2 Sq.km) / 3. Nauru (21 Sq.km) / 4. Tuvalu (26 Sq.km) / 5. San Marino (61 Sq.km) / Source: Worldmap
450 years after a genius' death
February 18 marks the 450th anniversary of Renaissance mastermind Michelangelo's death.
UN slams Vatican in report
A UN committee has issued a report assessing Vatican policies concerning children in the wake of worldwide abuse scandals. It said it was "gravely concerned" about how the Church has handled the crisis.
Benedict defrocked 400 priests
The Vatican has confirmed reports that former Pope Benedict XVI defrocked nearly 400 priests for child sex abuse in the last two years of his pontificate - a dramatic increase over previous years.
Vatican UN hearing
John Allen tells DW that reforms are under way at the Vatican, but that more needs to be done.
UN questions Vatican on abuse
Vatican envoys have appeared before a UN panel to answer questions over a wave of child sex abuse cases involving Catholic clergy. The Vatican has been challenged with allegations that it tried to cover up the abuse.
Pope to visit Holy Land
Pope Francis has announced that he will make his first trip to the Holy Land in late May. He said he would visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan during his stay.
Pope on war: It's time to stop
Pope Francis has appealed for an end to conflict in his New Year's address at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The Roman Catholic Church dedicates January 1 to the promotion of world peace.
Pope calls for peace
Pope Francis has used his first Christmas Day message as the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to urge peace in the Middle East and Africa. He also appealed for the environment to be saved from "human greed".
'God is light'
Pope Francis has celebrated his first Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican. In a brief homily, the newly elected pontiff called on the faithful to lead humble lives.
Time's 'Person of the Year'
Time magazine has named Pope Francis its "Person of the Year," less than nine months after he became pontiff. Whistleblower Edward Snowden picked up the second spot. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was fourth.
Vatican withholds abuse info
The Vatican has refused to provide information to a UN panel about its investigation into sexual abuse of children by the clergy. The Church said it couldn't be held responsible for the behavior of Catholics worldwide.
Netanyahu at the Vatican
Pope Francis has called for a fair and lasting solution to "the complex political and social situation in the Middle East" during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has invited the pope to Israel.
Pope calls for reform
Pope Francis has denounced unfettered capitalism in a manifesto for his papacy, beseeching global leaders to fight poverty. He also told priests to venture into "dirty" streets to minister to world's poor and oppressed.
Putin, pope call for Syria peace
Russian President Vladimir Putin has met Pope Francis in what the Vatican described as a "cordial and constructive meeting." Putin later dined with Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian ex-leader now lumbered with litigation.
NSA 'hacked Google, Yahoo data'
The US National Security Agency has reportedly broken into links that connect Yahoo and Google data centers around the world. The latest revelations came hours after German and US officials met to discuss US spy claims.
The Vatican turns to cricket to spread the word
The Vatican this week unveiled its latest plan to spread the word. On Tuesday it launched its own cricket club. The idea is to use the sport to engage, not only with cricket – mad Roman Catholics, but also other denominations and religions. With Helen Seeney is our Rome correspondent Megan Williams. Megan, it's certainly a novel idea. Who was the inspiration behind the new St Peter's Cricket Club?
Pomp vs. humility
The pope and the bishop of Limburg represent two faces of the Church, says DW's Stefan Dege.
Bling bishop's break
Pope Francis has sent a German bishop on a forced sabbatical for his lavish lifestyle.
Pope receives 'Bishop Bling'
The fate of the controversial Bishop of Limburg is in Pope Francis' hands.
Still awaiting papal audience
A German weekly has reported that Limburg's embattled bishop, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, is unwilling to give up his post. The bishop has spent the week in Rome awaiting a papal audience; he's been made to wait.
German dioceses open books
While 'luxury bishop' Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst awaits his fate in the Vatican, five German Catholic dioceses have made their finances public. Tebartz-van Elst continues to face calls for his resignation.
Bishop spending scandal
Germany's Bishop of Limburg has flown to Rome to take up his controversial case at the Vatican. Bishop Tebartz-van Elst is accused of lavish spending in the renovation of his residence.
Vatican bank goes public
The Vatican's bank has published its first-ever annual report as part of Pope Francis' reform drive. He is also due to convene talks with eight cardinals to map out administrative reforms in the church worldwide.
Vatican sets sainthood date
The Vatican has announced that Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be declared saints on April 27, 2014. The chosen date for the canonizations marks the first Sunday after Easter.
Pope Benedict denies coverup
Former Pope Benedict has denied accusations that he tried to cover up sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests. The denial was his first direct published comments since he stepped down in February.
Pope interview hints at reform steps
Suddenly, everyone's trying to get a copy of a staid Jesuit journal - all because of an interview with Pope Francis. In it, the pontiff reveals his thinking about a path for the church that combines tradition and reform.
Pope interview sends shockwaves
An interview by Pope Francis has been heralded as a dramatic change in tone in the Vatican’s approach to divisive doctrines. He urged that the Catholic Church break its "obsession" with divorce, gays and abortion.
Archbishop Zollitsch to retire
The Catholic head of the German Bishops' Conference since 2008, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, has been given approval to retire by the pope. Zollitsch sometimes draws plaudits for trying to liberalize a shrinking church.
Pope names 'deputy'
Pope Francis has named a Vatican diplomat as his secretary of state, replacing an increasingly divisive figure within the Catholic church's hierarchy. This comes as Francis seeks to overhaul the church's government.
New position on homosexuality?
On his return flight to Rome, Pope Francis surprises the media with remarks on homosexuality.
Pope draws millions in Brazil
Pope Francis drew as many as three million youths to his final Mass on Brazil's Copacabana beach, wrapping up an energetic trip to his home continent. The pontiff is encouraging a shake-up in the Catholic Church.
Pope: Reach out to your flocks
Pope Francis has encouraged Catholic leaders to reach out to the margins of society, find the faithful and preach. The pontiff is using his Latin American tour to draw the poor and marginalized back to the church.
Pope addresses Catholic youths
Pope Francis has presided over a procession re-enacting Christ's crucifixion at Rio's Copacabana beach. Latin America's first pope addressed young Catholics during the second night of religious ceremonies.
Francis gets pope's welcome
Enthusiastic crowds of Roman Catholics have greeted Pope Francis as he arrived in Rio de Janeiro. The pontiff will spend a week in Brazil where he is to attend the World Youth Festival.
Cleaning up 'God's bank'
New leadership is charged with shedding light on Vatican Bank's dark dealings.
Vatican bank officials resign
The director and the deputy director of the Vatican Bank have resigned. This comes three days after a Vatican official was arrested in a financial scandal as the pope seeks to clean up the bank.
Italian cleric arrested
Officials have arrested a Vatican cleric on suspicion of fraud in connection with the Vatican Bank, known as the Institute for Works of Religion. This comes two days after Pope Francis announced the new probe.
Pope seeks Vatican bank reform
Pope Francis is launching a commission to investigate the Vatican Bank. The financial institution has been plagued with scandals during its 71-year history. Its usefulness has been openly questioned by the new pontiff.
New style, old problems
Tradition and surprise mark the first 100 days of Pope Francis' pontificate.
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