Pope Francis waves to faithful at the end of the weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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.
Sarah Burke, editor-in-chief of Them, spoke with Cheddar News about how its digital magazine offers a different setting for the LGBTQ+ community from other magazines. "From the very beginning, the intention was to create a platform that had a foundation of inclusivity and intersectionality across the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum," Burke said.
Imagine having a viral video with 5 million views but not even using a cell phone. That is the paradox of a Greek great-grandma touching hearts around the world just by doing her thing. Take a look at this.
Glenda Jackson, a two-time Academy Award-winning performer who had a second career in politics as a British lawmaker before an acclaimed late-life return to stage and screen, has died at age 87.
Cold plunges are super hot on social media right now. Experts say they boost mental health, soothe sore muscles, and even promote weight loss. Cheddar's Ashley Mastronardi visited Kardashian favorite, Remedy Place, to get the skinny on ice baths.
New details are emerging about Carrie Fisher's last film. Here's a look at Fisher in the upcoming fantasy movie Wonder Well, which co-stars Rita Ora. Deadline is reporting that the film has a theatrical release date of June 23.
An auction of artwork and furniture from philanthropists Ann and Gordon Getty is taking place at Christie's Wednesday with online sales set for Thursday. Cheddar News takes a peek at some of the arts and objects from the family's Temple of Wings home in Berkeley, Calif.
