By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican press office said that the results of a morphological analysis of bones and bone fragments found at an ossuary in a Vatican cemetery concluded that none belonged to Emanuela Orlandi, a young Italian woman who has been missing for more than 30 years. […]
Forensic experts to study ‘thousands of bones’ found in Vatican ossuaries
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — During a search for the remains of a young Italian woman missing for more than 30 years, workers discovered an enormous number of bones inside two ossuaries in a building next to a Vatican cemetery. Further studies on the remains will be carried out starting July […]
Vatican Museums loan Leonardo painting for anniversary display
By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is marking the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci with a painting by the artist that will draw crowds but also pay solemn tribute to the larger-than-life Italian Renaissance painter, architect and inventor. “Saint Jerome Praying […]
Vatican City state set to end sale of single-use plastics
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — After current supplies run out, Vatican City State will no longer be selling any single-use plastic items on its tiny territory. While the European Union pledged in May to ban single-use plastic starting in 2021, the Vatican had already begun limiting its use and soon “it […]
Vatican to open tombs looking for young woman missing since 1983
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican City State tribunal has ordered the opening of two tombs in a small Vatican cemetery at the request of the family of Emanuela Orlandi, a young woman who disappeared in 1983. Emanuela Orlandi, a Vatican City resident and the daughter of a Vatican employee, […]
Vatican firefighter says St. Peter’s at much less risk than Notre Dame
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — After the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris April 15, Romans and tourists could not help looking at St. Peter’s Basilica and wondering, “what if?” But Maj. Paolo De Angelis, head of the Vatican fire department, told the Italian news agency ANSA April 16 […]
Vatican cookbook offers rare collection of recipes, history, photos
By Regina Lordan Catholic News Service “The Vatican Cookbook: 500 Years of Classic Recipes, Papal Tributes and Exclusive Images of Life and Art at the Vatican” by the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Sophia Institute Press (Manchester, New Hampshire, 2018). 204 pp., $34.99. During an era in which coffee-table books collect dust while handheld social media consumes […]
After 300 years, marble Holy Stairs to be uncovered for public to climb
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — For the first time in 300 years, the marble steps of the Holy Stairs will be free from the thick wooden panels installed in 1723 to protect the stairs and left uncovered for the public. For at least 40 days, people will be able to touch […]
Christmas spirit in the air as Vatican unveils Nativity scene, tree
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The annual unveiling of the Vatican’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene brought some much-needed warmth to people’s hearts as winter approached. Hundreds of people in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 7 applauded as white curtains unfurled, revealing a 52-foot wide artistic representation of Jesus’ birth made […]
Photo: Sand sculpture at the Vatican
A worker sculpts an angel on a Nativity scene made entirely of sand in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Nov. 26. The 52-foot wide sculpture is made of sand from Jesolo, an Italian seaside town near Venice. (CNS photo/Paul Haring )
