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People crowd Via del Corso shopping street ahead of a Christmas Eve national lockdown due to start on Dec. 24, in Rome.

For many across Europe, Christmas is ‘canceled’ this year

COVID-19

All over Europe, the coronavirus restrictions have hit people hard. So much so that many Europeans are saying that Christmas is “canceled” this year.

Fossilized tree rings

The history of the world is written in tree rings

Climate Change
Bar owner Cristina Mattioli put up a sign asking patrons not to talk about COVID-19.

At this Roman bar, talk about anything. Just not COVID-19.

Crosses bearing tags with names are seen in a graveyard of the Flaminio Cemetery, in Rome, Italy, Oct. 16, 2020.

In Italy, religious organizations’ ‘fetus graves’ reignite abortion debate

Reproductive rights
A screenshot from Liberian Italian artist Karima 2G's 2014 music video, "Bunga Bunga," in which she raps about racism and objectification of women.

This Liberian Italian beatmaker uses music to tackle racism in Italy

Protest
Pope Francis leads Mass and the Regina Coeli prayer in Rome's Santo Spirito in Sassia church without public participation due to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, April 19, 2020.

Catholic Twitter debates Trump’s handling of coronavirus pandemic

COVID-19

Some prominent Catholics are criticizing Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic — and many have been vocal on Twitter.

A stone bridge is shown lined with people weaing protective face masks and applauding.

Masked and gloved, Italy joins nations creeping out of lockdown

COVID-19

Italy was among a slew of countries easing lockdown restrictions on Monday to resurrect their economies, but officials cautioned against moving too swiftly as new coronavirus cases passed 3.5 million globally and deaths neared a quarter of a million.

Rev. Giuseppe Corbari in a small town in Lombardy printed out pictures of his congrgants and placed them on the pews so he'd feel less alone. 

Amid lockdown, churches find creative ways to keep in touch with the masses

COVID-19

The pope, the Vatican — a tiny city-state surrounded by Rome — and the church in predominantly Catholic Italy have all been forced to modify centuries of tradition because of the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

Megan Iacobini de Fazio is a freelance journalist who works from home in Torpignattara, Italy.

Living under lockdown in the Eternal City

COVID-19

A freelance journalist in Italy reflects on the country’s lockdown in light of the novel coronavirus.

A woman is shown wearing a white jacket and a face mask is shown standing in the middle of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II taking a photograph.

Streets deserted as Italy imposes unprecedented coronavirus lockdown

COVID-19

Italy faced an unprecedented lockdown on Tuesday that left streets in the capital Rome and other cities deserted after the government extended a clampdown across the entire country in a bid to slow Europe’s worst outbreak of the coronavirus.