Tag Archives: Pope Francis

Film and TV, International, Music, Religion, The Media

POPE FRANCIS SAYS HE WILL VOTE FOR SINGING NUN ON ITALY’S ‘THE VOICE’

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imageRome, Italy – This has all the trimmings of the classic 1966 movie, ‘The Singing Nun” except that it’s 2014, where reality TV shows like “The Voice” are dominating airwaves worldwide, including Italy.

The latest episode of ‘The Voice’ Italy featured a contestant who was a certified Catholic nun, rocking her way into the hearts of the judges, the live and television audience, and yes, even Pope Francis who announced he is going to vote for Sister Cristina Scuccia. Her rendition of Alicia Keys’ ‘No One’ captivated the entire country and beyond.

With the Pope’s endorsement and over 60 Million Catholics in Italy, Sister Cristina’s victory is almost assured.

Here’s a video clip of  the nun’s  surprising performance.

International, Religion

POPE FRANCIS DELEGATES PAPAL DUTIES IN ASIA TO PHILIPPINE CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE

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Philippine Cardinal Tagle
Philippine Cardinal Tagle

The Vatican, Italy – Pope Francis continues to send shockwaves to Catholics and others worldwide with his radical actions and pronouncements, many of which break away from centuries-old Vatican dogma and practices.

In his latest move, Pope Francis announced that he is delegating the papal duties to selected cardinals in various continents. His first appointment is  Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the young and charismatic bishop from the Philippines who was on the short list of candidates during Pope Francis’ election last year. Tagle will be the new pope for the Asian continent.  Pope Francis is expected to announce the other popes for Africa,  South America, North America, Antartica  and Australia in the next few weeks.  He is not appointing a pope for Europe since The Vatican is already in the European continent.

The Vatican said that this new arrangement will bring the papacy closer to the people around the world.

Soon after the announcement, The Boston Globe published this in-depth interview with Cardinal Tagle, calling him the Philippine Pope Francis.

See related article: “Pope Francis Scolds President Obama.”

International, Politics, Religion

OBAMA’S AUDIENCE WITH POPE FRANCIS WILL BE VOID OF THE USUAL PROTOCOL

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imageThe Vatican – When in Rome, do as the Romans do; when in The Vatican, do as the Pope does.

Both The Vatican and The White House have confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Pope Francis on March 27. It is no secret that Obama had always wanted to have an audience with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Obama’s official visit to The Vatican will not be like any other by a sitting U.S. president. Pope Francis has insisted that any bureaucratic and elitist protocols by The White House or the U.S. State Department must be thrown out the door the moment Obama steps into Vatican territory.

No secret service agents will be allowed past the gates of The Vatican. There will not be any presidential limousine that will take Obama into and around The Vatican (Instead, the Obamas will share rides with the Pope in his old, borrowed Fiat). Both Barack and Michelle  will  stay in the same apartment that Pope Francis is staying in along with other Roman priests. And instead of the usual state dinner, the Obamas will join Pope Francis that evening in sneaking out of  The Vatican to minister to the homeless.

The Obamas seem not to have any problems with The Vatican’s conditions, except for one thing: the Obamas cannot bring First Dog Bo into the papal apartment because Pope Francis is allergic to dogs. That means Bo will have to stay behind in Washington, D.C. in the care of the Obamas’ pet sitter.