2015 Event The Vatican indicates its intention to enter a treaty with Palestine, officially recognizing it as an independent state 2015 Event Cuban President Raul Castro meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican as a gesture of gratitude for the pontiff's role in facilitating renewed diplomatic ties between Cuba the U.S.; Pope Francis will visit both countries in September 2015 Event The Vatican ends a five-year investigation into a key organization of U.S. nuns two years ahead of schedule and recommends no major changes; the group was under scrutiny for practices considered out of line with Catholic Church teaching 2014 Event Pope Francis gives his annual Christmas address from the Vatican, praying for groups that included refugees and exiles, persecuted Christian communities, and workers fighting the Ebola epidemic 2014 Event The Vatican will install showers for the homeless in public restrooms on the grounds of St. Peter's Square; Archbishop Konrad Krajewski has also requested several local parishes around Rome to do the same 2014 Event Pope Francis beatifies Pope Paul VI, who was known for changes in the Catholic Church that came out of Vatican II 2014 Event The Vatican issues a document indicating that the Catholic Church is taking a softer stance on relationships outside of traditional marriage, upholding the church's views but advocating respect for unmarried couples and homosexual unions 2014 Event President Obama pays his respects in a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican; Obama has stated that he is 'a great admirer' of the new pope 2013 Event A meeting between Pope Francis and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, is held at the Vatican; discussions include Iran's nuclear program among other global affairs 2013 Event A Pontifical Commission is established by Pope Francise to investigate current accounting practices and implement new strategies for greater fiscal transparency and fiscal responsibility among all Vatican offices 2013 Event In Rome, Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII are canonized by the Vatican, becoming saints 2013 Event Reports that Pope John Paul II will be canonized are confirmed as his case awaits approval from Pope Francis, and confirmation of an alleged second miracle from the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints 2013 Event Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley-Davidsons and their riders in Vatican Square; the riders were celebrating the company's 110th anniversary with a parade 2013 Event Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI returns to live in Vatican City the Mater Ecclesiae two months after resigning as Pope 2013 Event In Vatican City, Italy, Pope Francis delivers his first message at the Vatican, telling journalists wants "a poor Church, for the poor" 2013 Event At Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his farewell address 2012 Event At St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Rome, Pope Benedict XVI delivers the annual Christmas Message and holds traditional Mass at St. Peters Basilica 2012 Event Pope Benedict XVI adds Arabic to the number of languages broadcasting the weekly Vatican address 2012 Event Pope Benedict XVI's former butler receives orders from the Vatican to stand trial for his alleged involvement in leading allegations of corruption in the Holy See 2012 Event The Vatican confirms that Pope Benedict XVI's butler was arrested for allegedly leading confidential documents 2011 Event The annual Christmas message is delivered by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City 2011 Event Pope Benedict XVI announces the launch of a new Vatican website, news.va; he also performs the first tweet ever made by a pope 2011 Event Pope Benedict XVI performs Easter Mass at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City; he calls for dialogue and diplomacy to end Libya's unrest 2010 Event The Vatican approves of Australian Mary MacKillop as their first saint for canonization 2006 Death Eileen Caddy, new age author, spiritual teacher, founded Findhorn Foundation commune, an international New Age community, dubbed 'Vatican of the New Age', today home to 400 residents from more than 40 countries, dies at age 89 in Findhorn, Scotland 1997 Event 1st time a Channukah candle is officially lit in Vatican City 1995 Death P C J van Lierde, Dutch vicar-general of Vatican (1951-91), dies at 87 1993 Event Vatican recognizes Israel 1993 Event Mafia bombs historical buildings in Rome/Milan/Vatican City, 5 killed 1992 Death Marc Tannenbaum, rabbi (only Jew to attend Vatican II), dies at 66 1989 Event Panama's dictator, Manual Noriega seeks asylum at Vatican embassy 1989 Event U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev meets Pope John Paul II at the Vatican 1987 Event Vatican formal opposition to test-tube fertilization and embryo transfer 1984 Event Revised concordat between Italy and Vatican signed 1984 Event U.S. establishes full diplomatic relations with Vatican after 117 years 1973 Event Pope Paul VI has an audience with Golda Meir at Vatican 1968 Event Vatican City's Apostolic Constitution of 1967 goes into effect 1965 Event Pope Paul VI signs 2nd Vatican council 1965 Event 4th meeting of 2nd Vatican council opened 1964 Event Vatican abolished Latin as official language of Roman Catholic liturgy 1964 Event Pope Paul VI signs 3rd sitting of 2nd Vatican council 1964 Event 3rd sitting of 2nd Vatican council opens in Rome 1963 Event Pope Paul VI closes 2nd session of 2nd Vatican Council 1963 Event 2nd session of Ecumenical council, 'Vatican II,' opens in Rome 1963 Event Pope Paul opens 2nd sitting of 2nd Vatican council 1962 Event 2nd Vatican Council (21st ecumenical) convened by Pope John XXIII 1959 Event Vatican edict forbids Roman Catholics for voting for communists 1959 Event Pope John XXIII proclaims 2nd Vatican council 1957 Event Vatican Radio begins broadcasting 1953 Event Vatican disallows priest holiday work in factory 1944 Event Dutch begin diplomatic contact with Vatican in London 1943 Event Vatican bombed 1943 Event German troops occupied Rome and took over the protection of Vatican City 1939 Event Pope Pius XII crowned in Vatican ceremonies 1938 Event Vatican recognizes Franco-Spain 1934 Event Austria signs pact with Vatican 1934 Death Franz Ehrle, German jesuit/head of Vatican library, dies at 88 1933 Event Vatican state secretary Pacelli (Pius XII) signs accord with Hitler 1930 Event Vatican approves rhythm method for birth control 1929 Event Romania and Vatican sign concord 1929 Event Mexico and Vatican sign Concord 1929 Event Prussia and Vatican sign Concord 1929 Event Vatican City becomes a sovereign state 1929 Event Vatican City, world's smallest country, made an enclave of Rome 1926 Event Vatican puts French fascist Charles Maurras' work on the index 1924 Event Bayern and Vatican reach accord 1922 Event Mussolini ask Vatican for support of fascist party program 1922 Event Latvia and Vatican sign accord 1917 Birthday Eileen Caddy, born in Alexandria, Egypt, new age author, spiritual teacher, founded Findhorn Foundation commune, an international New Age community, dubbed 'Vatican of the New Age', today home to 400 residents from more than 40 countries 1914 Event Vatican puts Belgian Nobel winner Maeterlinck's works in their index 1911 Birthday Diego Fabbri, Italian, playwright/leader, Vatican movie bureau 1903 Birthday Clare Boothe Luce, U.S. ambassador, to Vatican 1869 Event 20th Roman Catholic ecumenical council, Vatican I, opens in Rome 1860 Birthday Willem H Nolens, priest/Dutch ambassador to Vatican 1845 Birthday Franz Ehrle, German prefect of Vatican library 1633 Event Galileo Galilei forced to recant Earth orbits Sun by Pope (but on Oct 31, 1992, Vatican admits it was wrong) 1600 Event Vatican convicts scholar Giordano Bruno to death 1593 Event Vatican opens 7 year trial against scholar Giordano Bruno
