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.
The leader of the violent Islamic State group was killed during an overnight raid carried out by U.S. special forces in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, President Joe Biden said Thursday.
U.S. troops head to Europe amid Russia-Ukraine dispute, big plans to battle cancer, and a butterfly center is threatened. Here is all the news you Need2Know for Thursday, February 3, 2022.
A major winter storm with millions of Americans in its path brought a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow to the middle section of the United States as airlines canceled hundreds of flights, governors urged residents to stay off roads and schools closed campuses.
This Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent, contemporary Black Americans like Gerome Sapp, former NFL player and founder and CEO of sneaker marketplace Rares.
There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow Wednesday to perform his Groundhog Day duties.
Not a lot of cheers for Punxsutawney Phil this Groundhog Day, a major settlement over the opioid epidemic, and one airline is out of the monkey transport business. Here is all the news you Need2Know for Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
When the Irish dance troupe Riverdance kicks off its 25th anniversary North American tour later this year, someone special will be in its high-stepping cast: the troupe’s first Black female dancer.
This Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent, contemporary Black Americans like Ayesha Selden, a real estate and personal wealth guru.
Finally, a COVID vaccine may be on the way for little kids, the California gov wants to get rid of one of the country's most infamous death rows, and a self-published book by a second-grader is in demand. Here is all the news you Need2Know for Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
Cheddar's Michelle Castillo looks into the changing ideas around weight loss and health at the inclusive gym, Form Fitness, in Brooklyn, New York.
