Religious News Service Photographs

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About this Collection

Conceived by journalist Louis Minsky (1909-1957), Religious News Service (RNS) was established in 1934 as an affiliated but independently managed agency of the National Conference of Jews and Christians (later the National Conference of Christians and Jews), and was dedicated to providing authoritative and bias-free news about religion and ethics to both the secular and religious press. This collection contains photographs documenting Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish groups. Coverage of Protestants (especially mainline Protestants) and Catholics constitutes the bulk of the images. View the collection guide to learn more. Digitization of some of the images in this collection made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Featured image: Father James Groppi, the civil rights activist priest from Milwaukee, and militant leader Rennie Davis are taken into custody during an anti war demonstration a block from the White House.

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Title:
First woman ambassador to the Vatican.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46614 FIRST WOMAN AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN VATICAN CITY -- In a precedent-shattering move, Pope Paul has accepted the nomination of a woman as an ambassador to the Vatican. The pontiff agreed to receive the credentials of Bernadette Olowo, 27, named by President Idi Amin as Uganda’s envoy to the Holy See. The Pope’s decision breaks what is believed to be a 900-year-old unwritten tradition barring women from becoming official representatives at the Vatican. Miss Olowo, a secretary in Uganda’s embassy in Bonn, will also serve as Ambassador to West Germany, where she will reside. Roman Catholics in Uganda number about 3.5 million out of a total population of 10,764,000. Church-state relations have been erratic under the regime of Muslim President Amin, who has shown both benevolence and hostility toward the Church. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-WG-1C-75-DS)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Olowo, Bernadette., Catholic Church--Foreign relations--Uganda.
Topics:
Ambassadors--Uganda., Women ambassadors--Uganda.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., Uganda--Foreign relations--Catholic Church.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362209
Title:
Lunch with the pope.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46584 LUNCH WITH THE POPE VATICAN CITY -- Pope Paul VI prepares a plate for Francisco Morales Jr. of Ridgefield, Conn., one of five boys of an international group of boys’ choirs who were invited to have lunch with the Pontiff following the Eighth Annual World Peace Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In his World Peace Day Message, Pope Paul once again appealed to “all men of goodwill” to work for world peace but criticized nations for their arms buildup and warned that they were drifting back to uncompromising policies of the period before World War II. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-ROM-1A-75-DS)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Vatican Palace (Vatican City), Morales, Francisco, Jr.
Topics:
Popes., Children--Vatican City., Choirs (Music)--Vatican City., Boys' choirs--Vatican City., Luncheons--Vatican City., Peace-building--Religious aspects--Catholic Church., International relations.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362206
Title:
Holy Year is inaugurated.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46567 HOLY YEAR IS INAUGURATED VATICAN CITY -- Pope Paul VI kneels at the threshold of the Holy Door and prays briefly before proceeding to the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate Christmas Midnight Mass. The pontiff had just ceremonially opened the Holy Door to inaugurate the Church’s 1975 Holy Year. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-ROM-12D-74-DS)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano., Catholic Church--Customs and practices., Catholic Church--Liturgy.
Topics:
Holy Year., Popes., Mass., Christmas service--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362203
Title:
Pontiff opens Holy Door.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46566 PONTIFF OPENS HOLY DOOR VATICAN CITY -- Pope Paul VI taps three times on the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica with a ceremonial silver hammer, saying prayers each time. After the third blow with the hammer, the massive bronze door was lowered to the ground by pulleys and the 1975 Holy Year was officially inaugurated. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-ROM-12D-74-DS)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano., Catholic Church--Customs and practices.
Topics:
Holy Year., Popes., Rites and ceremonies--Vatican City., Hammers., Christmas service--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362202
Title:
Prepare for Holy Year.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46549 PREPARE FOR HOLY YEAR VATICAN CITY -- Vatican attendant dismantle the interior part of the Holy Door inside St. Peter’s Basilica to remove a box of medals commemorating past Holy Years from 1300 to 1950. Pope Paul VI will open the Holy Door on Christmas Eve to start the 1975 Holy Year. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-ROM-12C-74-DS)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano., Catholic Church--Customs and practices.
Topics:
Holy Year., Christmas service--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362201
Title:
Precedent at the Vatican: Pope receives woman envoy.
Creator:
Religious News Service. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Olowo, Bernadette., Catholic Church--Foreign relations--Uganda.
Topics:
Ambassadors--Uganda., Women ambassadors--Uganda.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., Uganda--Foreign relations--Catholic Church.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362172
Title:
Pontiff opens Holy Door.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano., Catholic Church--Customs and practices.
Topics:
Holy Year., Popes., Rites and ceremonies--Vatican City., Hammers., Christmas service--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362131
Title:
Lunch with the pope.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Vatican Palace (Vatican City), Morales, Francisco, Jr.
Topics:
Popes., Children--Vatican City., Choirs (Music)--Vatican City., Boys' choirs--Vatican City., Luncheons--Vatican City.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362119
Title:
Vatican ambassador.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Olowo, Bernadette., Catholic Church--Foreign relations--Uganda.
Topics:
Ambassadors--Uganda., Women ambassadors--Uganda.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., Uganda--Foreign relations--Catholic Church.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362099
Title:
Prepare for Holy Year.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano., Catholic Church--Customs and practices.
Topics:
Holy Year., Christmas service--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362078
Title:
Holy Year is inaugurated.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano., Catholic Church--Customs and practices., Catholic Church--Liturgy.
Topics:
Holy Year., Popes., Mass., Christmas service--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:362043
Title:
Kissinger confers with pope.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: CJ-46218 KISSINGER CONFERS WITH POPE VATICAN CITY -- U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (right) examines a book of ancient Italian etchings on religious subjects presented to him by Pope Paul VI during a special audience at the Vatican. At center is Henry Cabot Lodge, the Presidential envoy to the Vatican. Mr. Kissinger was in Rome for the opening of the United Nations-sponsored World Food Conference. The Vatican gave no details of the meeting between Mr. Kissinger and the Pope, though it is generally believed that the two men discussed the Middle East situation, and the crisis of food throughout the world. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-ROM-11A-74-DS)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Vatican Palace (Vatican City), United Nations--Congresses., World Food Conference (1974 : Rome, Italy), Kissinger, Henry, 1923-2023., Lodge, Henry Cabot, Jr., 1902-1985., Catholic Church--Foreign relations--United States.
Topics:
Popes., Congresses and conventions--Italy--Rome., Food supply--Congresses., Economic policy--Congresses., Cabinet officers--United States., Ambassadors--United States., Arab-Israeli conflict.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., United States--Foreign relations--Catholic Church.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361909
Title:
Pontiff addresses food conference delegates.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46231 PONTIFF ADDRESSES FOOD CONFERENCE DELEGATES VATICAN CITY -- Pope Paul VI, his arms raised, salutes some 2,000 delegates and observers to the United Nations-sponsored World Food Conference as he arrives in the Vatican’s audience hall to address them. The Pontiff attacked what he called “an irrational and one-sided campaign” against population growth in current efforts to meet the world food crisis. Insisting that worldwide hunger and malnutrition are not “inevitable destinies,” he also scored the “absurdity” of a situation in which wealthy nations apparently tolerate “the enduring poverty” of other countries. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (B-ROM-11B-74-DS)
Creator:
United Press International. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Vatican Palace (Vatican City), United Nations--Congresses., World Food Conference (1974 : Rome, Italy)
Topics:
Popes., Congresses and conventions--Italy--Rome., Food supply--Congresses., Economic policy--Congresses.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., Developed countries--Economic policy.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361902
Title:
Kissinger confers with pope.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Vatican Palace (Vatican City), United Nations--Congresses., World Food Conference (1974 : Rome, Italy), Kissinger, Henry, 1923-2023., Catholic Church--Foreign relations--United States.
Topics:
Popes., Congresses and conventions--Italy--Rome., Food supply--Congresses., Economic policy--Congresses., Cabinet officers--United States., Ambassadors--United States., Arab-Israeli conflict.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., United States--Foreign relations--Catholic Church.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361874
Title:
Pontiff addresses food conference delegates.
Creator:
United Press International. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Vatican Palace (Vatican City), United Nations--Congresses., World Food Conference (1974 : Rome, Italy)
Topics:
Popes., Congresses and conventions--Italy--Rome., Food supply--Congresses., Economic policy--Congresses.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., Developed countries--Economic policy.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361795
Title:
Melkite patriarch defends jailed prelate.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: CJ-46088 MELKITE PATRIARCH DEFENDS JAILED PRELATE VATICAN CITY -- Melkite Catholic Patriarch Maximos V Hakim of Beirut, Lebanon, in an address to the international Synod of Bishops of the Ronan Catholic Church, expressed support for his vicar in Jerusalem, who is being tried by an Israeli court on charges of smuggling arms and explosives for Palestinian guerrillas. Referring to the case of Syrian-born Archbishop Ilarion Capucci, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Melkite Church in East Jerusalem who went on trial Sept. 20, Patriarch Hakim said: "We should not be too quick to condemn him, despite propaganda to the contrary. He has taken risks to direct attention of the world to the rights of the Arabs, at least in Jerusalem and the territories occupied (by the Israelis) since the war of 1967." Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (R-1OA- 74-DS)
Creator:
Religious News Service. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church. Patriarchate of Antioch (Melchite), Hakim, Maximos V, Patriarch of Antioch., Catholic Church--Bishops., Catholic Church. Synodus Episcoporum., Kabūshī, Īlāryūn, 1922-2017.
Topics:
Councils and synods--Vatican City., Church controversies--Jerusalem., Church and state--Catholic Church., Church and state--Jerusalem., Church and social problems--Jerusalem., Trials (Illegal arms transfers)--Jerusalem.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City., Jerusalem.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361505
Title:
Women of the Synod.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46134 WOMEN OF THE SYNOD VATICAN CITY -- Sister Mary Linscott, S.N.D. (center), mother general of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and Mother Margarita Maria Goncalves, R.S.H.M., superior general of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, are greeted by an unidentified prelate during the World Synod of Bishops. Sister Linscott, a native of Britain, is president and Mother Goncalves, from Portugal, is vice-president of the International Union of Women Superiors General. Both are serving as "experts and advisers" to the Synod's secretary, posts they also held during the 1971 Synod. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (CR-ROM-10B-74-DS)
Creator:
Photo CIRIC (Geneva, Switzerland) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur., Catholic Church., Linscott, Mary., Goncalves, Margarita Maria., Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary., Catholic Church. Synodus Episcoporum.
Topics:
Councils and synods--Vatican City., Church representation--Vatican City., Women in the Catholic Church--Vatican City., Monasticism and religious orders for women--Vatican City.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361499
Title:
Prelates report to Synod.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46130 PRELATES REPORT TO SYNOD VATICAN CITY -- Four of the five prelates appointed by Pope Paul to act as "relators" or summarizing spokesmen of their colleagues in five parts of the world -- Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia, and Europe -- report to a session of the Synod of Bishops. From left are: Bishop Eduardo Pironio of Mar del Plata, Argentina, who presented the Latin American viewpoint on the central question of the synod, “Evangelization in the Modern World;" Bishop James D. Sangu of Mbeya, Tanzania, who reported for the African Bishops' Conference; Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin of Cincinnati, representing North America, Australia and Oceania; and Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro, Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan, who spoke on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Asia. Also acting as a "relator," but not shown, was Archbishop Roger Etchegaray of Marseille, France, spokesman for the views of European Bishops' Conferences. In their reports, the prelates pointed to the decline in the number of priests, nationalism, liberation movements, and the image of "a narcissistic Church," as some of the problems facing the Church. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (CR-ROM-1OB-74-DS)
Creator:
Photo CIRIC (Geneva, Switzerland) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church. Synodus Episcoporum., Catholic Church--Bishops., Pironio, Eduardo F., 1920-1998., Sangu, James Dominic., Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar., Bernardin, Joseph, 1928-1996., Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Ohio), Cordeiro, Joseph Marie Anthony., Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences., Etchegaray, Roger., Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Marseille (France), Catholic Church. Consilium Conferentiarum Episcopalium Europae.
Topics:
Councils and synods--Vatican City., Church representation--Vatican City., Church and the world--Catholic Church., Church and social problems--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361498
Title:
Synod working session.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46106 SYNOD WORKING SESSION VATICAN CITY -- Pope Paul VI and several prelates preside at a working session of the fourth World Synod of Bishops. From left to right are: Cardinal Juan Landazuri Ricketts of Lima, Peru, and Cardinal Franz Koenig of Vienna, two of the three presidents of the Synod; an unidentified aide; Pope Paul; Bishop Ladislaw Rubin, secretary general of the Synod; and Archbishop Aloisia Lorscheider of Fortaleza, Brazil, who presented the panorama or general view of the life of the Church at the Synod's opening session. Television monitors aid the bishops in viewing the proceedings. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (AN-ROM-10B-74-DS)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Catholic Church--Bishops., Catholic Church. Synodus Episcoporum--Congresses., Landázuri Ricketts, Juan, 1913-1997., König, Franz, 1905-2004., Rubin, Władysław, 1917-1990., Catholic Church. Congregatio pro Ecclesiis Orientalibus., Lorscheider, Aloísio.
Topics:
Councils and synods--Vatican City., Clergy conferences., Popes.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361495
Title:
Cardinal applauds youth.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-46092 CARDINAL APPLAUDS YOUTH VATICAN CITY -- Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia (right foreground) listens to proceedings during the Synod of Bishops. In a speech before the Synod, Cardinal Krol cited the generosity and social action of young people. In his statement on youth, Cardinal Krol said: "People have always talked against the young -- but how can we dismiss as insignificant the overwhelming interest of our youth in three contemporary motion pictures, 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' Godspell,' and 'The Exorcist'? Can it be said that youth is not turned on by Jesus Christ and things holy?" "Can we forget,” Cardinal Krol asked, "the generosity of youth to the point of sacrifice, which is most evident in their work in the Peace Corps, missionary volunteers, and their volunteer services in hospitals, homes for the aged, and other institutes for the handicapped?" Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (B-ROM-10A-74-DS)
Creator:
United Press International. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Król, John J. (John Joseph), 1910-1996., Catholic Church--Bishops., Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Pa.), Catholic Church. Synodus Episcoporum.
Topics:
Youth in church work., Youth in peace-building., Youth in missionary work., Councils and synods--Vatican City., Bishops--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia., Speeches, addresses, etc.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:361493

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