Author: Josephine Mckenna

Two people ride bicycles past a synagogue in Milan, Italy, on March 15, 2012. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Paolo Bona © Paolo Bona / Reuters Two people ride bicycles past a synagogue in Milan, Italy, on March 15, 2012. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Paolo Bona © Paolo Bona / Reuters

Pope Francis closes the Holy Door to mark the closing of the Catholic Jubilee year of mercy at the in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Nov. 20, 2016. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Tiziana Fabi/Pool © POOL New / Reuters Pope Francis closes the Holy Door to mark the closing of the Catholic Jubilee year…

ROME — Lurid accusations of priests involved in sex orgies, porn videos and prostitution have emerged from several parishes in Italy recently, sending shock waves all the way to the Vatican and challenging the high standards Pope Francis demands of clergy. In the southern city of Naples, for example, a priest was recently suspended from the parish…

A general view is seen of Pope Francis leading the Easter mass in St. Peter’s square at the Vatican on March 27, 2016. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi © Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters A general view is seen of Pope Francis leading the Easter mass in St. Peter’s square at the Vatican on March 27,…

Pope Francis washes the foot of a refugee during the foot-washing ritual at the Castelnuovo di Porto refugees center near Rome, Italy, on March 24, 2016. Pope Francis on Thursday washed and kissed the feet of refugees, including three Muslim men, and condemned arms makers as partly responsible for Islamist militant attacks that killed at…

Sister Candida Bellotti, center, at the celebration for her 110th birthday in Italy. Image from video screenshot Sister Candida Bellotti, center, at the celebration for her 110th birthday in Italy. Image from video screenshot

Rohingya women wait in line with vouchers to collect relief distributed by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society at Kutupalang Unregistered Refugee Camp in Coxís Bazar, Bangladesh, on Feb. 6, 2017. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Mohammad Ponir Hossain © Mohammad Ponir Hossain / Reut Rohingya women wait in line with vouchers to collect relief distributed by the…

Dr. Huang Jiefu, Director of China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee, attends a news conference during 2016 China International Organ Donation Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Oct. 17, 2016. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Jason Lee © Jason Lee / Reuters Dr. Huang Jiefu, Director of China National Organ…

Families separated by the two countries chat along the U.S.-Mexico border fence at Border Field State Park, California, on Nov. 19, 2016. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Mike Blake © Mike Blake / Reuters Families separated by the two countries chat along the U.S.-Mexico border fence at Border Field State Park, California, on Nov. 19, 2016. Photo…

Pope Francis holds a candle as he arrives to lead the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Feb. 2, 2017. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi © Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters Pope Francis holds a candle as he arrives to lead the Feast of the Presentation…