vatican

Francis has pleaded for peace practically on a weekly basis, and has repeatedly expressed a wish to act as a broker between Kyiv and Moscow. His offer has so far failed to produce any breakthrough.

Kyiv estimates nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since Moscow invaded in February last year, in what it condemns as illegal deportations.

In the past, women were allowed to attend the synods, a papal advisory body, as auditors but with no right to vote.

The daughter of a Vatican usher whose family lived in the Vatican, Orlandi, then 15, failed to return home on June 22, 1983 following a music lesson in Rome.

The pope, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate earlier this month, has suffered a number of ailments in recent years.

The Vatican said the 86-year-old pope had complained of breathing difficulties in recent days. It added that tests showed he did not have COVID-19.

Greece said that they hope the return of the fragments by the Vatican will lead to the British Museum making a similar gesture in the near future.

Francis, who previously opposed the idea that celibacy was an option for leaders of the church, appeared to loosen his stance when speaking with Argentine outlet Infobae.

Francis stressed the differences between men and women but called for 'equality in diversity' on 'a playing field open to all players.'

Francis also rejected claims by some conservatives that Benedict, who died on Aug. 31, was embittered by some of the current pope's decisions.