All articles tagged with #rome
Pope Leo XIV appointed four new auxiliary bishops for the Diocese of Rome—Stefano Sparapani, Alessandro Zenobbi, Andrea Carlevale, and Marco Valenti—each previously serving as parish priests in Rome, with roles including episcopal vicars for different city sectors.
President Donald Trump will travel to Rome, Georgia on Thursday to speak about the economy and affordability and visit a local business, while endorsing Clay Fuller in Georgia’s 14th District special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Following Cardinal Fernández's proposal to proceed with episcopal consecrations, the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X agreed to a meeting in Rome on February 12, 2026, and urged the Society's members and faithful to pray for a favorable outcome.
A fresco in a Rome church depicting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been covered after public outrage and a culture ministry investigation; the restorer admitted masking the likeness, saying the Vatican ordered it, while authorities require formal authorization for alterations to church artworks.
A fresco in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome depicting a cherub resembling Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was painted over after an outcry from church and state, highlighting debates over political likeness in religious art.
Italy’s culture ministry has opened an inquiry into a recently restored cherub in the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina, Rome, after social media comparisons suggested the face resembles Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Investigators will review archival documentation and compare the current decoration with the original 2000 drawing; the restorer says he simply copied the prior drawing and did the work as a volunteer, while church officials vow to assess the modifications with authorities. The incident has fueled debate and even drawn visitors to the chapel, nicknamed the “Meloni Chapel.”
Non-residents must buy a 2-euro ticket to approach and toss coins into Rome’s Trevi Fountain during peak hours (11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays; 9 a.m.–10 p.m. otherwise); after 10 p.m. access is free. Proceeds fund fountain maintenance and Caritas, with exemptions for children under five, people with disabilities, and local residents. The move targets overtourism in a crowded square, though some visitors resisted on day one and officials plan patrols to curb injuries.
Rome began charging a two-euro entry fee to access the Trevi Fountain area to curb overcrowding and fund upkeep and nearby museums. Ticketed visitors can enter 9:00–22:00 (Mon and Fri open at 11:30), with proceeds supporting staff and local institutions. The move drew mixed reactions from locals and tourists, and accessibility for disabled visitors remains a concern.
Italy’s culture ministry and the Diocese of Rome are investigating an angel restoration in the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina after it was noted to resemble Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; the restorer says he faithfully restored the original, while Meloni and church officials frame it within heritage concerns as authorities decide next steps.
Rome's La Casa dei Grifi, the oldest Republican-era house documented on the Palatine Hill, will open to the public in March after a long closure. Because of conservation needs and a steep original staircase, access will be via a remote, real-time guided experience with multimedia reconstructions, offering a window into daily life in ancient Rome while physical visits remain constrained.
Friends, peers and fashion luminaries gathered in Rome to bid farewell to Valentino Garavani, who died at 93. After lying in state for two days, his coffin was moved to the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri for the ceremony, with attendees including Anna Wintour, Anne Hathaway, Tom Ford, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley, Alessandro Michele and Olivia Palermo among others.
Celebrities and fashion leaders gathered in Rome for the farewell of Valentino Garavani, with his lying-in-state at the Valentino Foundation and a funeral at the St. Mary of Angels Basilica, attended by figures such as Donatella Versace, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Anna Wintour, and Tom Ford.
Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian couturier behind the iconic 'Valentino red' and a decades-long fashion house, died at 93 at his Rome residence per his foundation; he founded Valentino SpA in 1959 with Giancarlo Giammetti, dressing stars from Elizabeth Taylor to Cate Blanchett and shaping red-carpet couture for generations; he retired in 2008, but the brand remains a global icon under new leadership.
Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude to the institutions and volunteers who contributed to the Jubilee Year of Hope in Rome, highlighting their often unseen efforts that enabled millions of pilgrims to experience hope and spiritual renewal. He emphasized the importance of hope for young people and encouraged ongoing faith and role models, concluding with a blessing and a Jubilee crucifix as a symbol of gratitude.
Pope Leo XIV closed 2025 with a prayer for Rome to be more welcoming to foreigners and vulnerable populations, thanking the city and volunteers for their efforts during the Holy Year, which drew millions of pilgrims and marked a significant papal transition, including the election of the first U.S. pope.