Pope Francis vows to end sexual abuse after McCarrick report

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is vowing to rid the Catholic Church of sexual abuse and offering prayers to victims of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Wednesday’s pledge came a day after the Vatican released its detailed report into the decadeslong church cover-up of McCarrick’s sexual misconduct. Francis concluded his weekly general audience by recalling that…

Italy shuts down 4 regions as Europe tries lighter lockdowns

MILAN (AP) — The center of Milan stood remarkably empty as luxury boutiques, jewelry shops and other non-essential businesses in Italy’s vibrant financial capital closed on the first day of a partial lockdown. Restrictions imposed in four Italian regions on Friday to stop the coronavirus’s resurgence allow a great deal more freedom than the nationwide…