New illumination for Michelangelo's Pietà
Vatican installs new lighting system for Michelangelo sculpture in St Peter's.
The Pietà, Michelangelo's marble masterpiece in St Peter's Basilica, has been illuminated using new LED lights with warm...
All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in Rome 2018
Public holiday in Italy on 1 November.All Saints’ Day, or Ognissanti, on Thursday 1 November is a public holiday in Italy, resulting in the closure of offices and schools, with Rome's public transport...
Pope prays with young people at Circus Maximus
Notte Bianca at 19 Rome churches on night of 11 August.
Pope Francis will hold a prayer vigil at Rome's Circus Maximus on the evening of Saturday 11 August ahead of October's Synod of Bishops on Youn...
Festa de’ Noantri: ancient Roman festival in Trastevere
Ancient religious festival held in Rome's Trastevere every July.
The annual Festa de’ Noantri takes place in the Rome district of Trastevere from 16-30 July. Central to the festival, which dates ba...
New PVC helmets for Swiss Guards
Lighter headgear to replace Swiss Guards' cast iron helmets in 2019.The Vatican's Swiss Guards plan to replace their traditional cast iron helmets with much lighter headgear in PVC, produced with the...
Fra Angelico tomb vandalised in Rome
Rome religious art affected by recent wave of vandalism and theft.The marble tomb of the Early Italian Renaissance painter Blessed Fra Angelico has been vandalised at the church of S. Maria sopra Mine...
Kosher controversy over Roman artichokes
Israeli rabbis say Rome's carciofi alla giudia not kosher.
Rome's Jewish community is contesting a ruling by the Israeli rabbinate which says that carciofi alla giudia, a signature Roman-Jewish dish,...
Easter in Rome 2018
Heavy security and free museums in Rome for Easter 2018.
Easter in Rome is taking place amid tight security in the centre and the Vatican, particularly surrounding religious ceremonies for Holy Week....
Ceiling plaster falls in St Peter's
Basilica is partially sealed-off but remains open to visitors.The Vatican has sealed off part of St Peter’s Basilica after chunks of stucco fell from the ceiling during visiting time on the afternoon...
Easter 2018: Rome church services in English
English-language religious services in Rome during Easter Week.VATICAN CEREMONIES29 March. Holy Thursday. Chrism Mass, Vatican Basilica, 09.30.30 March. Good Friday. Papal Mass, Vatican Basilica 17.00...
Rome's Colosseum to close on Good Friday
Metro Colosseo to close on 30 March ahead of papal ceremony.
The Colosseum and Roman Forum are expected to close for security reasons at lunchtime on Friday 30 March ahead of the traditional Good Fri...
Ash Wednesday in Rome 2018
Rome's Carnevale season ends on 13 February ahead of Lent.
Ash Wednesday or mercoledì delle ceneri signifies the first day of Lent in the Christian calendar and this year occurs on 14 February. It ma...
Christmas church services in Rome
There are numerous English language religious services in Rome over Christmas.All Saints' Anglican ChurchVia del Babuino 153/b, tel. 0636001881.24 Dec. Crib Service for children 17.00, First Eucharist...
Callista Gingrich is new US ambassador to Holy See
Trump's ambassador to Vatican begins new role day after attending funeral of Cardinal Law.The new US ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich presented her credentials to Pope Francis on 22 Decemb...
Cardinal Bernard Law dies in Rome
Disgraced American cardinal was at centre of Boston child sexual abuse scandal.Cardinal Bernard Law, the former Archbishop of Boston who presided over a massive cover-up of clerical child sexual abuse...
Christmas cribs in Rome
Rome displays a variety of Christmas cribs, from traditional to unconventional, during the festive season each year.The 42nd edition of 100 Presepi, the international nativity crib exhibition, takes p...
Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Rome
Pope Francis will visit Rome's Spanish Steps during national public holiday on 8 December.
On the feast of the Immaculate Conception on Friday 8 December, Pope Francis will pay homage to the Virgin M...
Founder of Methodist missions in Italy commemorated in Rome
Rome's Methodists remember Henry James Piggott.
A commemoration to mark the centenary of the death of Henry James Piggott, the founder of Wesleyan Methodist missions in Italy, will be held at the Non...
Vatican Christmas tree to be lit on 7 December
Christmas tree and crib will remain in St Peter's Square until 7 January.
The Vatican’s giant nativity scene and Christmas tree will be unveiled officially in St Peter's Square at 16.30 on 7 December...
Vatican bans duty-free cigarette sales
Health reasons cited for Vatican cigarette ban which takes effect in January.Pope Francis has ordered a ban on the sale of duty-free cigarettes inside the Vatican due to the adverse health effects of...
