By Nicole Winfield
Pope Francis endorsed same-sex civil unions for the first time as pope while being interviewed for the feature-length documentary “Francesco,” which had its premiere at the Rome Film Festival on Wednesday.
The papal thumbs up came midway through the film that delves into issues he cares about most, including the environment, poverty, migration, racial and income inequality, and the people most affected by discrimination.
“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said in one of his sit-down interviews for the film. “What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.”
While serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis endorsed civil unions for gay couples as an alternative to same-sex marriages. However, he had never come out publicly in favor of civil unions as pope.
Director Evgeny Afineevsky had remarkable access to cardinals, the Vatican television archives, and the pope himself. He said he negotiated his way in through persistence, and deliveries of Argentine mate tea and Alfajores cookies that he got to the pope via some well-connected Argentines in Rome.
Italy’s culture and tourism ministers have vowed to find and punish a tourist who was filmed carving his name and that of his apparent girlfriend in the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, a crime that resulted in hefty fines in the past.
Actress Angela Bassett and actor-producer Mel Brooks will be among those that will receive honorary Oscars for transforming "the film industry and inspired generations of filmmakers and movie fans."
A new study shows intermittent fasting is as effective as counting calories.
Kat Berton, a cage captain at 'Live Axe' in lower Manhattan, spoke with Cheddar News about how you can get some drinks, socialize and maybe let off some steam.
A teacher is given the gift of life by one of her colleagues, a Purple Heart recipient gets a life-changing surprise, a man starts a movement of positivity with one simple gesture and service dogs get a chance to serve the nation's bravest.
Prosecutors say they are seeking the death penalty against a man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death late last year.
A white woman accused of firing through her door and fatally shooting a Black mother in front of her 9-year-old son in central Florida was charged Monday with manslaughter and assault.
From Angela Bassett's new hardware to Ryan Reynold's new sport, here's what's happening in entertainment.
Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride announced Monday she's running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Already the first openly transgender state senator elected in the country, she'd be the first transgender member of Congress if she wins in November.
An Arizona dog named 'Scooter' was named the world's ugliest dog at an annual contest in California.
