Last week, Pope Francis met with Argentinian President Alberto Fernández, whose country is currently weathering an economic crisis that has led to widespread hunger and a crippling national debt. In their meeting, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with his home country and offered to help however possible. On this week’s “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and I explain what form that help might take.

This past week also brought “news” on Pope Francis’ forthcoming document on the Amazon: an Italian historian reported that he had obtained advance sections of the document proving that Pope Francis would endorse ordaining mature, married men to the priesthood. Gerry explains on the show why he was skeptical about this report.

Finally, the Vatican has sent more than 600,000 masks to Wuhan Province in China to help fight the spread of coronavirus. This aid comes even as the Chinese government continues to crack down on religious communities, even banning Catholic priests from leading graveside prayers in cemeteries.

 

Links from the show:

• Pope Francis, a son of Argentina, welcomes its new president to the Vatican
• Inside the Vatican: Who is the papal almoner and what does he do?
• Vatican delivers 600,000 masks to help combat coronavirus in China

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