The murder of an 14-year-old girl in Italy by her ex-boyfriend has sparked reflection on how patterns of control and possession, long associated with adult relationships, are now increasingly present among adolescents.
country: Italy
Stay updated with comprehensive news on Italy from Worldcrunch. Discover insights on Italian politics, economic developments, societal issues, and cultural landmarks with translations from top international sources. Highlights include Rome, Milan, Venice, the Italian film industry, modern cuisine, and events like the Venice Biennale.
May 23 – June 5, 2025
From Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin to Italian Prime Minister Meloni and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, intense maneuverings are underway to see if the peace process can be relaunched in Rome. There are both religious and judicial hurdles to overcome.
For years, critics have tried to bury #MeToo, often holding up high-profile acquittals as proof of its demise. Yet, when convictions occur, no one calls it a victory for the movement. This contradiction reveals a deep misunderstanding of what #MeToo was — and an urgent need for it to stay alive.
Pope Leo XIV’s Latin American connections and first-hand familiarity with the lives of the poor in Peru, will likely reinforce his predecessor’s social vocation and vigorous concern for migrants. But that’s not the only way he expresses his Peruvian side.
May 9 – May 22, 2025
Italian novelist Viola Ardone reflects on childhood dreams, institutional patriarchy, and why the Catholic Church still silences women as 133 cardinals gather to elect the next pope.
If a compromise was found in pre-Conclave talks, it would likely be a shorter wait for white smoke. Keep an eye on the Italians.
In the last hours before the Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, a negotiation between powerful Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Luis Tagle, a favorite of the Church’s progressive wing from the Philippines could unblock the election for the next Pope.
As the conclave approaches, Vatican intrigue intensifies, with Italian ambitions, global rivalries and conservative strategy shaping the next papal election.
Each cardinal brings strengths and weaknesses, but a Vatican insider tells La Stampa that it is now clear: more time is needed.
Despite his distance from traditional centers of power, Pope Francis strengthened the Church’s role as a global mediator, a legacy now highlighted by the remarkable Trump-Zelensky encounter at his funeral.
In the wake of Pope Francis’s death and Trump’s return to power, fears of civilizational decline abound. But Italian political analyst Gabriele Segre argues that apocalyptic narratives risk becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.
Our Naples-based Dottoré pays a non-religious, albeit emotional tribute to the late pontiff.
April 25 – May 1, 2025
The Argentine-born pontiff appeared equal parts combative and caring, and apt to share parts of papal life long held secret by his predecessors. A look back on a of a pope who was more like you and me than bishops of Rome are thought to be — and who seemed to be just fine with it all.
In life and in death, Francis has been praised as a reformer, even if he basically left the Church structurally untouched. His image was shaped more by clever media strategy than genuine change.
Right-wing authoritarians around the world are speculating on an opportunity: the next pope could be one of their own. It would provide much moral authority on a global stage.
In her Oval Office debut with Trump, the Italian prime minister defends Ukraine, pushes for an EU-US summit, and dodges calls to raise defense spending.
Giorgia Meloni’s visit to the White House is another delicate diplomatic mission, as she tries to keep relations between Europe and Donald Trump from vanishing altogether. Ultimately though she can’t have it both ways.
Should theaters be punished for showcasing Russian classics? What if their message undermines everything Putin believes?
American protectionism has returned, with tariffs that vary by country, but are permanent. There will be exceptions and specific negotiations but, in Trump’s intentions, they become one of the foundations of the American economy. The world must respond with this reality in mind.
Church leaders push for a common Easter date, as they seek to bridge centuries-old divisions between Eastern and Western Christian traditions.
In southern Italy, a 19-year-old woman was kidnapped by her parents for falling in love with a transgender man. Tracked down with a GPS, imprisoned, and forced to “recover” from her “disturbance.” Are we returning to the days of witch hunts?
By most accounts, Pope Francis was close to death in his recent illness, before recovering. He said the experience was “brutto” bad. Just what did he mean by that? Should death be faced with obedience or resistance? Should we cling to life or welcome what comes next? Reflections from an Italian theologian.
Madonna, the TV show The White Lotus, fashion shows, weddings — little by little, the beauty of neglected regions like Sicily and Puglia has rightfully emerged in the algorithm of digital desire. Finally, the secret power of Southern Italy has gained a global audience.
A survey conducted in nine European countries reveals strong opposition to Donald Trump and his policies, along with fears of a conflict on European soil. This has led to overwhelming support for an independent European defense — even in traditionally pro-U.S. nations. A turning point.
Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s creation of the White House Faith Office in early February, Loris Zanatta writes in Clarín that religious politics is already on the verge of becoming political religion, and the 2020s are starting to look an awful lot like the 1920s. And we know where that led.
In Dronero, the overwhelming majority of students enrolled in primary schools are of foreign descent, while the children of Italian parents go to school in neighboring villages. Some point to racism to explain the phenomenon, but the reality is a different one.
Gathered in London alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, top European leaders set forth the goal to keep the U.S. engaged, even if it means swallowing their pride in the face of the disgraceful behavior of America’s top leaders.
Irene was calling: “Lorenzo ate a small yellow berry from those plants that are everywhere. It’s toxic. The pediatrician says we should go to the ER.” And thus begins our father’s latest tale.
A recent video of a woman being tortured in Libyan refugee camps is further proof that agreements signed by the EU and Italy with Libyan and Tunisian authorities are doing more harm than good. But the work of associations like Refugees in Libya shows that there is still some hope for the future, writes Don Mattia Ferrari, a Catholic priest who works closely with these NGOs.
The White House has showcased images of deported migrants in shackles. This deliberate display of humiliation is part of a broader strategy that combines cruelty with political messaging, undermining both personal dignity and democratic values, writes Caterina Soffici for Italian daily La Stampa.
On his inauguration day, President Donald Trump signed the decree abolishing the law that grants U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil. For Italian writer Mattia Feltri, America was born from the idea that anyone could come, live freely, pursue their happiness. That dream is dead.
A misplaced trash bag containing a secret stash sparks an argument between sisters — and our Naples-based psychiatrist.
Europeans expected to deal with the return of Donald Trump, but now face both Trump and Elon Musk, who continue to make provocative statements. Yet the EU is divided, with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni going her own way and positioning herself as Trump’s main interlocutor in Europe.
The release of journalist Cecilia Sala from Iranian prison after 21 days is a triumph of diplomacy and urgency, orchestrated by the Italian Prime Minister herself. Meloni used an urgent meeting with Donald Trump to help unlock the negotiations.
Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Olaf Scholz have all responded in the past few days to Elon Musk statements siding with Europe’s far right. Among top European leaders, U.S. tech billionaire seems to only have eyes for Italy’s Giorgia Meloni.
Mobsters ride together, they style together, and sometimes they serve time together. In Naples, it’s the Camorra for life, and even behind bars, there is a dress code and codes for inking.
France is the latest European country to fall victim of destabilizing, anti-establishment forces. Now that the French government has collapsed, the question remains as to how Europe can integrate these powerful, far-right forces in its governing bodies without sweeping away democratic ideals.