Francis X. Rocca
@fxrocca.bsky.social
Journalist specializing in the Vatican and global religion, senior analyst for EWTN News, ex @wsj.com, director: “Voices of Vatican Il” https://bit.ly/3V0ddKV. Email: fxrocca@gmail.com.
Vatican press office: “The night passed peacefully; the Pope got up and had breakfast in his armchair.”
February 20, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Vatican press office: “The night passed peacefully; the Pope got up and had breakfast in his armchair.”
Vatican press office: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition remains stable. Blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in signs of inflammation.”
February 19, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Vatican press office: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition remains stable. Blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in signs of inflammation.”
Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in the hospital today.
“I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive,” she said. “We joked as always. He has not lost his legendary sense of humor.”
“I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive,” she said. “We joked as always. He has not lost his legendary sense of humor.”
February 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in the hospital today.
“I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive,” she said. “We joked as always. He has not lost his legendary sense of humor.”
“I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive,” she said. “We joked as always. He has not lost his legendary sense of humor.”
Vatican press office says the pope has double pneumonia and is receiving corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy for his polymicrobial infection. Says the pope is nevertheless in good spirits.
February 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Vatican press office says the pope has double pneumonia and is receiving corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy for his polymicrobial infection. Says the pope is nevertheless in good spirits.
Fascinating discussion of the rise of Islam with the eloquent Tim Winter
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Islam
Podcast Episode · Past Present Future · 01/26/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
February 2, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Fascinating discussion of the rise of Islam with the eloquent Tim Winter
Reposted by Francis X. Rocca
The president of Colombia has retweeted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s post.
January 27, 2025 at 3:37 AM
The president of Colombia has retweeted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s post.
Is this the most assertive use of executive power by a new administration since FDR?
January 27, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Is this the most assertive use of executive power by a new administration since FDR?
Is this diplomacy? Or is electoral politics basically professional wrestling?
We need to get Jackie G to do some lip reading here.
What did Trump say to make Obama laugh.
What did Trump say to make Obama laugh.
January 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Is this diplomacy? Or is electoral politics basically professional wrestling?
Yes, although I wouldn’t rule out a post-presidential visit. I suspect Francis would be very open to it — and wouldn’t that get diplomatic and journalistic tongues flapping?!
Indeed. I understand the reasons for canceling the trip, but it's really a pity that it won't happen.
January 9, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Yes, although I wouldn’t rule out a post-presidential visit. I suspect Francis would be very open to it — and wouldn’t that get diplomatic and journalistic tongues flapping?!
Biden’s canceled visit to Italy deprives him of a valedictory meeting with Pope Francis, a missed chance to stress his legacy as the second Catholic president — and as a progressive leader on issues, such as migration and the environment, championed by the pope.
January 9, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Biden’s canceled visit to Italy deprives him of a valedictory meeting with Pope Francis, a missed chance to stress his legacy as the second Catholic president — and as a progressive leader on issues, such as migration and the environment, championed by the pope.
Five years after the advent of COVID-19, handshakes are back in the news. Who’d have predicted?
January 7, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Five years after the advent of COVID-19, handshakes are back in the news. Who’d have predicted?
Online reactions to the Washington appointment yesterday are a reminder that the Internet and especially social media have made church politics an activity for laypeople in a way that would have been unthinkable a few decades back.
January 7, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Online reactions to the Washington appointment yesterday are a reminder that the Internet and especially social media have made church politics an activity for laypeople in a way that would have been unthinkable a few decades back.
In light of reports that Pope Francis will name Cardinal McElroy archbishop of Washington, I'm reupping a double profile of the cardinal and his fellow Californian Archbishop Cordileone, who together epitomize much of the division in the Catholic Church in the U.S. today. www.wsj.com/articles/two...
Two California Bishops Personify Catholic Divide Over Politics of Abortion
As bishops gather this week in Southern California, Cardinal-designate Robert McElroy of San Diego and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco represent progressive and conservative wings of ...
www.wsj.com
January 6, 2025 at 9:38 AM
In light of reports that Pope Francis will name Cardinal McElroy archbishop of Washington, I'm reupping a double profile of the cardinal and his fellow Californian Archbishop Cordileone, who together epitomize much of the division in the Catholic Church in the U.S. today. www.wsj.com/articles/two...
The F word is everywhere now. As well as weakening every sentence in which it appears, it loses force from overuse. Serious question: what will replace it as the most powerful expletive?
December 29, 2024 at 10:38 AM
The F word is everywhere now. As well as weakening every sentence in which it appears, it loses force from overuse. Serious question: what will replace it as the most powerful expletive?
It’s jarring to see Biden’s name in this headline. You have to remind yourself he’s still president.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Biden Signs Revised Plan to Avert Government Shutdown
The proposal extends federal funding into March and provides disaster aid, but leaves out the debt-ceiling increase demanded by Trump.
www.wsj.com
December 21, 2024 at 10:08 PM
It’s jarring to see Biden’s name in this headline. You have to remind yourself he’s still president.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Donald Trump names Brian Burch, president of conservative advocacy group Catholic Vote, as ambassador to the Holy See
December 20, 2024 at 6:49 PM
Donald Trump names Brian Burch, president of conservative advocacy group Catholic Vote, as ambassador to the Holy See
Tina Brown names jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai her person of the year 2024 open.substack.com/pub/tinabrow...
Optical Delusions
Trump has shown again he can distract us from ominous reality with the parade of glitz to which America has become addicted.
open.substack.com
December 17, 2024 at 5:57 PM
Tina Brown names jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai her person of the year 2024 open.substack.com/pub/tinabrow...
Reposted by Francis X. Rocca
CNN statement on the Clarissa Ward report.
Just want to note that in order get something on air at CNN it has to go through many layers of executives.
This is a systemwide failure.
Just want to note that in order get something on air at CNN it has to go through many layers of executives.
This is a systemwide failure.
December 16, 2024 at 3:18 AM
CNN statement on the Clarissa Ward report.
Just want to note that in order get something on air at CNN it has to go through many layers of executives.
This is a systemwide failure.
Just want to note that in order get something on air at CNN it has to go through many layers of executives.
This is a systemwide failure.
Happy birthday, Jane Austen -- 249 and never better
December 16, 2024 at 7:50 AM
Happy birthday, Jane Austen -- 249 and never better
See we’ve settled on Man-joan, as a compromise between the Italian Mahn-joan-eh and the all-American Man-gee-oney
December 13, 2024 at 9:15 PM
See we’ve settled on Man-joan, as a compromise between the Italian Mahn-joan-eh and the all-American Man-gee-oney
Reposted by Francis X. Rocca
This man was not made for this moment.
December 13, 2024 at 1:32 AM
This man was not made for this moment.
youtube.com
December 12, 2024 at 8:48 PM