VATICAN CITY — As the Holy See prepares for the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI has indicated to Israeli diplomats that he does not intend to beatify controversial Pope Pius XII during his reign on St. Peter’s throne, a senior Israeli source has claimed.
John Phillips
ROME – The sex scandals that have tainted the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, have created a major “image problem” for Italy that is scaring away foreign investors who otherwise would have created jobs on the peninsula, a senior Rome-based Western diplomat has cautioned.
25 Feb 2011
Alberto Mucci
ROME — Luci sull’Est (Light on the East), an Italian association of Catholic inspiration, has announced the completion on the site of a huge former Soviet Gulag of the cathedral of Karaganda in the heart of north-eastern Kazakhistan. The association, which mainly operates in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, stresses the importance of the climaxing of the new cathedral that is designed to be a symbol of religious freedom, not only for Christianity but for religion as a whole in the region.
24 Feb 2011
Philip Willan
Rome –The painters Botticelli and Raphael set the measure of female beauty during the Italian Renaissance and influenced western art for centuries to come. The perception of women in modern Italy has been to a large degree the work of one man — Silvio Berlusconi — and his handiwork is becoming a problem.
21 Feb 2011
Shelly Kittleson
ROME– Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak - a man who once served as the country’s air force commander and who just a few weeks ago was publicly announcing he was ‘’a military man who had served this country during war and peace” and that he would ‘’die on the soil of Egypt” - has been ousted by, or some would say has silently handed the reins to, the army.
17 Feb 2011
Alberto Mucci
ROME– Just after the closure of the successful Caravaggio exhibition held at the Scuderie del Quirinale that celebrated the 400th anniversary of the artist’s death, Rome will play host to another of Michelangelo Merisi’s exhibitions.
17 Feb 2011
Caroline Prosser
ROME — Nearly 100 guests attended the Association of British Expats in Italy’s Annual Event and Luncheon on Saturday. Held in the historic Palazzo Brancaccio, the lunch was an occasion for British people to meet and exchange experiences of living in Italy.
Gareth Horsfall, the president, introduced the association and its aims as a non-profit, non-political, non-religious, cultural organisation. The association was launched last year to promote British and Italian culture, create friendship and strengthen relationships amongst the British community.
15 Feb 2011
Insider reporters
MILAN — A Milan judge on Tuesday ordered Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stand trial April 6 on charges of using an under age prostitute and abuse of office. The media mogul abruptly cancelled a news conference in Sicily and returned to Rome after the decision was announced.
15 Feb 2011
Amanda Hildebrand
ROME– Hundreds of thousands of women, and some men, took to the streets of the capital and other cities last week-end demanding the resignation of the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Spurred by his recent sex scandals and a long record of itemizing women, feminist groups organised the protests to call attention to the negative portrayal of women in the media in addition to the objectification of women on behalf of Berlusconi.
14 Feb 2011