Vatican had a very bad December, very bad.
12-13-23 - Pope Francis reveals he will not be buried in Vatican
"Francis, who turns 87 on 17 December, told the Mexican broadcaster N+ that he would be laid to rest in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the Esquilino neighbourhood in Rome, where he goes to pray before and after trips overseas."
"Francis cancelled a trip to the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai after a bout of acute bronchitis in late November."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/13/pope-francis-reveals-he-will-not-be-buried-in-vatican
12-13-23 - The pope says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica, not in the Vatican
"Pope Francis says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica of St. Mary Major, not in the grottoes of the Vatican like other popes, so he can be near his favorite icon of the Madonna."
"Francis, who turns 87 on Sunday, also said he never thought about resigning this year despite a series of health scares. He said he has a trip confirmed to Belgium next year and visits under consideration to Polynesia and his native Argentina."
"It was Francis’ first interview since his latest bout of acute bronchitis, which forced the cancellation of a trip this month to Dubai to participate in the U.N. climate conference."
https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-basilica-burial-argentina-ba9dc3ccbf4210df16e64d4032451671
12-12-23 - Pope Francis says ‘lure of corruption’ is constant threat in the Vatican
"The Vatican legal system is approaching the conclusion of a yearslong financial corruption trial surrounding a $400M London real estate deal"
"Pope Francis — who is recovering after a severe case of bronchitis — prepared the speech himself, though he was unable to read it."
https://www.foxnews.com/world/pope-francis-lure-corruption-constant-threat-vatican
12-12-23 - At Vatican trial’s end, Secretariat of State gives a green light to go ahead
"ROME – In the penultimate hearing of the Vatican’s “trial of the century,” prosecutors presented a new declaration from Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin in which the pope’s top aide said that the Secretariat of State wants the process to go forward."
https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2023/12/at-vatican-trials-end-secretariat-of-state-gives-a-green-light-to-go-ahead
12-11-23 - Vatican ultimatum fails to end India’s liturgy dispute
"The dissident group wants Pope Francis to allow them to follow a solution both parties agreed on a few months ago"
"Their gathering came three days after the Church officials announced the resignation of the Church’s major archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry and the administrator Archbishop Andrew Thazhath of the archdiocese, where the liturgy dispute created a crisis of division for the past two years."
"On Dec. 7, the Vatican also released a video of Pope Francis asking the Catholics of the archdiocese to end the liturgical dispute and bring unity to the Church by celebrating liturgy approved by the Synod of Bishops of their Church, the supreme decision-making authority of the eastern rite Church."
"The papal message also warned not to force authorities to declare them as people “no longer in communion” with the Church because they refused to follow the Church-approved liturgy."
https://www.ucanews.com/news/vatican-ultimatum-fails-to-end-indias-liturgy-dispute/103545