Elisabetta Povoledo

Pope Francis has made clear that contentious issues like the ordination of women are not on his agenda, but that hasn’t stopped the demand for greater equality.

The Italian authorities carried out a drill of their plan to save a half-million people from toxic fumes, deadly quakes or a full eruption. Vesuvius isn’t the volcano they’re worried about.

VATICAN CITY — Ten years after it was established, a Vatican commission on clerical sexual abuse issued its first report Tuesday, a limited step in

ROME — When a pope dies, cardinals younger than 80 gather at the Vatican to elect his successor in what is known as a conclave. Recent papal elections have offered glimpses of this highly secretive process by allowing television cameras to capture some of the pomp and prayers leading up to the voting.

Based in Parma, Club dei 27 is so exclusive that it’s given rise to all sorts of myths. But it’s really about venerating the famous opera composer born near the Italian city.

When a show produced by Ms. Knox about the murder of Meredith Kercher was filmed in Perugia, an outcry by residents led the mayor to apologize.

ROME — It has probably been centuries since Romans have been so feverish about happenings at the Colosseum, and it is not because of the recent release of the Ridley Scott “Gladiator” sequel.

When the hammer fell at Christie’s in Manhattan on May 15, 1990, a Vincent van Gogh painting, “Portrait of Dr Gachet,” set the record at the time for the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction, going to a Japanese paper magnate for $82.5 million.