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.
Hark Audio founder and CEO Don Mackinnon spoke to Cheddar about changing the user experience with podcasts through the company's curated Harklists.
Gemini, a popular cryptocurrency exchange, released a report this month looking at the crypto habits of 3,000 U.S. adults.
Disneyland has reopened after a 13-month closure. The iconic theme park in Southern California that was closed under the state's strict virus rules swung open its gates Friday and some visitors came in cheering and screaming with happiness.
An overnight stampede in Israel kills dozens, a look at the COVID disaster in Latin America, the economic repositioning in America, a new shortage to report and did people really answer the phone without Caller ID?
Singer-songwriter Kelly Rowland talked with Cheddar about her family, celebrating Black joy, and music in a, hopefully, post-COVID world.
Popular dance-fitness system Zumba turns 20 years old, and CEO Alberto Perlman talked to Cheddar about navigating the pandemic and looking forward to the return of more in-person instruction.
The headlines from President Biden's first speech to Congress, plus why he's got reason to be sounding optimistic about the state of the pandemic. And would you let a Walmart worker stock your fridge?
Siobhán Lonergan, chief brand officer for shapewear marketplace Shapermint, joined Cheddar to discuss the company's search for a "chief mom officer."
Justin and Taylor Norris, co-founders and CEOs of LIT Method, talked about the investment from Jay-Z in their fitness company.
Britney Spears has asked to address the court to talk about the conservatorship that controls her life and finances.
