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.
Experts in England have reconstructed the face of a teenage girl who lived over 1,000 years ago.
In the latest Cheddar Feed, where we highlight some of the stories spotlighted on our social media, a 103-year-old Maine woman continues to lobster trap with family while an estimated 7.5 million Baby Shark products were recalled after several reports of injuries.
Taylor Swift performed her 'Dear John' song for the first time in years and pleaded to fans to stop cyberbullying as the song is long believed to be about her ex-beau, singer John Mayer.
Musical legend Elton John captivated audiences at the Glastonbury festival in what he said could be his last concert in England.
Mrs. Kasha Davis, star of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars," which recently kicked off its eighth season, spoke with Cheddar News about her time on the show, what she does outside of her program and how important it is for her to help children stay inclusive.
Legendary rapper Busta Rhymes was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and musical icon Patti LaBelle powered through a mishap while honoring the late Tina Turner.
Thousands gathered to attend New York City's annual Pride parade.
Hikers have found human remains in a Southern California mountain area where actor Julian Sands disappeared five months ago.
Thousands of effusive marchers danced to club music in New York City streets Sunday as bubbles and confetti rained down, and fellow revelers from Toronto to San Francisco cheered through Pride Month's grand crescendo.
The 2023 BET Awards celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with tributes to the genre’s earliest voices, late legends, and new talent during a show packed with spectacular performances that consistently felt like a party.
