Rachel Donadio

Pope Francis on gays: ‘Who am I to judge?’

Lifestyle & Belief

Pope Francis I surprised reporters aboard the papal aircraft over the weekend with comments in support of gay people. The Pope also spoke in support of women, but also said he has no plans to extend their rights to be ordained as priests within the church.

Pope Francis Formally Installed as Pope

Cardinals Gather in Rome to Elect New Pope

The Secret Process of Picking a Pope

Berlusconi Seeks a Return to Power

Mario Monti To Form New Government in Italy

With Silvio Berlusconi officially submitting his resignation this weekend, the Mario Monti era begins in Italy. The interim prime minister’s first task will be to form a new government to enforce the country’s recently approved austerity package to get the country’s debt burden under control. But who is Italy’s new leader? And will his new […]

Investors Fear Contagion From Euro Crisis

As the European sovereign debt crisis has spread from Greece to Italy, investors worst fears are coming true. “Contagion” is the word of the day, as Italy’s precarious situation threatens to destabilize the entire euro zone, possibly posing a systemic risk to the global economy. A central member of the euro zone, and Europe’s third […]

Greece Forms New Coalition Government; Italy’s Berlusconi Rumored to Be Resigning

Embattled Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will resign once plans for a new coalition government are finalized. Papandreou and his political rival, conservative leader Antonis Samaras, reached a deal on Sunday to form a unity government to  implement the unpopular austerity measures required by a bailout deal reached with European leaders. The new government is expected […]

Greek Leaders Reach Agree to Form New Unity Government

Later today, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and Greece’s main opposition leader are expected to announce details about their plan to form a new unity government  and to name a new prime minister. Greece has rarely had unity governments. But fears that the crisis could infect other euro zone nations, like Italy and Spain, has pushed […]

Greece’s Government Teeters Over Referendum Plan

Greece’s ongoing debt crisis and governmental instability has become the focal point of this week’s G-20 summit in Cannes, France. A day before a scheduled no-confidence vote in Greek Parliament that could lead to the government’s collapse, two ministers have publicly split with Prime Minister George Papandreo over his plan to hold a referendum on […]