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:
Italian sisters care for orphans.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-4006 ITALIAN SISTERS CARE FOR ORPHANS ROME -- War-ravaged Italy presents few such happy scenes as this, which occurred at a convent near here where Catholic sisters care for abandoned and orphaned youngsters. UNRRA helps supply some of their rations. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (KEY-NY-MES-7A-6-C)
Creator:
Keystone Press Agency Ltd. (London, England) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.
Topics:
Catholic orphans--Italy--Rome., Orphans--Italy--Rome., Nuns--Italy--Rome., Children--Institutional care--Italy--Rome., Church work with orphans--Italy--Rome., World War, 1939-1945--Civilian relief., Reconstruction (1939-1951)--Italy.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359825
Title:
Standards at Mother Cabrini Canonization.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: 4088-4089 STANDARDS AT MOTHER CABRINI CANONIZATION ROME -- One of the canvases which hung from the balconies in St. Peter’s Basilica at the canonization of Mother Cabrini is shown above, left. The painting depicts the miraculous cure of Paul Pezzini, an Italian workman who for 25 years was afflicted with a tumor and who was also stricken with acute double pneumonia and an intestinal inflammation. This was one of the two miracles accepted in 1944 by Pope Pius XII which led to the diminutive nun’s canonization within 30 years after her death in Chicago. At the right is shown a standard which looked out over St. Peter’s Square, outside the Basilica. The canvas portrays the new Saint accompanied by two of the heavenly host, while at the bottom of the panel a ship steams through the sea toward the New York skyline. Mother Cabrini crossed the Atlantic 26 times, became a naturalized American citizen in Seattle in 1909. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (BE-RO-JOG-7B-6-C)
Creator:
Bergh. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano., Cabrini, Frances Xavier, Saint, 1850-1917., Pezzini, Paul.
Topics:
Gathering rites., Canonization., Christian saints--United States., Religious art--Italy--Rome., Christian art and symbolism--Italy--Rome.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359769
Title:
Banner at canonization.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: 4086-4087 BANNER AT CANONIZATION ROME -- Carried aloft in the Papal procession which opened the ceremony of canonization of Mother Cabrini in St. Peter’s Basilica was the resplendent standard shown here. On the front of the banner (left) Mother Cabrini looks down from heaven with compassion on the ill, the needy, and the helpless. The reverse side of the banner (right) depicts the small, frail nun as she knelt before Pope Leo XIII who instructed her to labor in the United States rather than go to China, a land which had attracted her from childhood. In the background is the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, which Mother Cabrini first beheld in 1889 upon completion of her initial voyage from Italy. Before her death in Chicago in 1917 Mother Cabrini crossed the Atlantic 26 times. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (BE-RO-JOG-7B-6-C)
Creator:
Bergh. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Cabrini, Frances Xavier, Saint, 1850-1917., Leo XIII, Pope, 1810-1903., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano.
Topics:
Gathering rites., Canonization., Christian saints--United States., Religious art--Italy--Rome., Christian art and symbolism--Italy--Rome.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Statue of Liberty National Monument (N.Y. and N.J.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359768
Title:
The few who are happy.
Description:
Alternate caption on reverse.
Creator:
Keystone Press Agency Ltd. (London, England) (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.
Topics:
Catholic orphans--Italy--Rome., Orphans--Italy--Rome., Nuns--Italy--Rome., Children--Institutional care--Italy--Rome., Church work with orphans--Italy--Rome., World War, 1939-1946--Civilian relief., Reconstruction (1939-1951)--Italy.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359673
Title:
The manger.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #1056 THE MANGER Pilgrims come to the Chapel of the Manger to kneel in prayer at the place where once the infant Christ was laid. The shrine is lighted by fifteen silver lamps which are kept perpetually burning. The manager [sic. manger] itself is preserved in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. (TD-NY-TD-11-29-5)
Creator:
Doyle. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Santa Maria Maggiore (Church : Rome, Italy), Jesus Christ--Nativity.
Topics:
Catholic church buildings--Italy--Rome., Chapels--Italy--Rome., Crib in Christian art and tradition--Italy--Rome., Crèches (Nativity scenes)--Italy--Rome., Christian shrines--Italy--Rome.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358813
Title:
Welcome to Rome.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-29946 WELCOME TO ROME ROME -- Stefan Cardinal Wyszinski, Primate of Poland, carries roses presented to him upon his arrival in Rome to participate in sessions of the Second Vatican Council. The cardinal, the highest-ranking prelate from a Communist country to attend the Council, headed a group of 25 Polish bishops. Some 35 other Polish prelates remained at home, not having received exit permits to attend the Council sessions. Cardinal Wyszinski, an outspoken critic of the Communist regime in Poland, recently delivered several sermons denouncing restrictions placed on the Church in his homeland. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (K-ROM-9E-63-RB)
Creator:
Keystone (Rome, Italy) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Bishops., Vatican Council (2nd : 1962-1965 : Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano), Wyszyński, Stefan, 1901-1981.
Topics:
Bishops--Italy--Rome., Communism and Christianity--Poland., Communism and Christianity--Catholic Church., Councils and synods--Vatican City.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Poland.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358074
Title:
Vietnamese prelates in Rome.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-29930 VIETNAMESE PRELATES IN ROME ROME -- Prelates and priests from South Vietnam are shown as they arrived in Rome for the second session of the Second Vatican Council. Seven Vietnamese bishops were among the early arrivals. In a statement they said that one of the aims of the Council was to define the situation of the Church in the world. South Vietnam has been involved in a controversy in which Buddhists have charged persecution by the Diem government. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-RO-9D-63-W)
Creator:
ANSA (Organization) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Bishops., Vatican Council (2nd : 1962-1965 : Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano)
Topics:
Bishops--Italy--Rome., Freedom of religion--Vietnam (Republic), Buddhism--Relations--Catholic Church., Councils and synods--Vatican City.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Vietnam (Republic)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358071
Title:
Americans greet the pontiff.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-29911 AMERICANS GREET THE PONTIFF VATICAN CITY -- A gift for Pope Paul VI from Slovak Catholics of the United States. With the pontiff is Bishop Andrew G. Grutka of Gary, Ind. (far right) who led 250 Americans to the dedication of SS. Cyril and Methodius Institute in Rome. Making the presentation is Msgr. Stefan Nahalka, head of the Institute, as Paul C. Kazimer, supreme treasurer of the Slovak Catholic Federation of America, looks on at left. Slovak parishes in the U.S. contributed more than $400,000 to build the institute named for the Apostles to the Slavs. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (JS-PAS-9C-63-W)
Creator:
Grutka, Andrew G., 1908-1993. (contributor)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Slovenský ústav sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Ríme., Grutka, Andrew G., 1908-1993., Catholic Church--Bishops., Náhalka, Štefan, 1916-1975., Catholic Church--Clergy., Kazimer, Paul C., Slovak Catholic Federation of America.
Topics:
Popes., Bishops--Italy--Rome., Clergy--Italy--Rome., Dedication services--Italy--Rome., Slovak American Catholics.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358067
Title:
Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #29705 Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses, San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome, Italy. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (NY-PL-63)
Creator:
New York Public Library. (publisher), Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564. (sculptor)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Moses, (Biblical leader)--Statues., S. Pietro in Vincoli (Church : Rome, Italy)
Topics:
Sculpture--Italy--Rome., Marble sculpture--Italy--Rome., Christian art and symbolism--Italy.--Rome., Christian art and symbolism--16th century.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358014
Title:
First New Guinea nuns make perpetual vows.
Creator:
Society of the Divine Word. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Nangumaia, Josepha., Imbue, Aloisa.
Topics:
Nuns--Papua New Guinea--Wewak., Consecration of nuns--Papua New Guinea--Wewak., Catholic converts--Papua New Guinea.--Wewak., Monasticism and religious orders--Papua New Guinea., Monasticism and religious orders for women--Papua New Guinea., Monasticism and religious orders--Habit.
Geographic subjects:
Wewak (Papua New Guinea), Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358003
Title:
Sister Josepha Nangumaia.
Creator:
Society of the Divine Word. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Nangumaia, Josepha., Imbue, Aloisa.
Topics:
Nuns--Papua New Guinea--Wewak., Consecration of nuns--Papua New Guinea--Wewak., Catholic converts--Papua New Guinea.--Wewak., Monasticism and religious orders--Papua New Guinea., Monasticism and religious orders for women--Papua New Guinea.
Geographic subjects:
Wewak (Papua New Guinea), Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357919
Title:
Letter from John C. Scirank, September 18, 1963.
Creator:
Scíranka, Ján, 1902-1980. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Slovenský ústav sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Ríme., Grutka, Andrew G., 1908-1993., Catholic Church--Bishops., Náhalka, Štefan, 1916-1975., Catholic Church--Clergy., Kazimer, Paul C., Slovak Catholic Federation of America.
Topics:
Popes., Bishops--Italy--Rome., Clergy--Italy--Rome., Dedication services--Italy--Rome., Slovak American Catholics.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Milwaukee (Wisconsin)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357874
Title:
Who me?
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-31925 WHO ME? ROME -- “I didn’t do it,” this startled three-year-old choir boy seems to be telling the photographer as he clutches a religious vessel. Age and wisdom -- in the person of 92-year-old Msgr. Giuseppe Pazzaglia -- comfort the boy, frightened by flash bulbs. The child, Francesco Ritrovato, marched in procession in Rome’s central Piazza di Spagna to the statue of the Virgin Mary in observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The holy day was highlighted by a visit from Pope Paul VI who placed a wreath of flowers before the statue. Msgr. Pazzaglia, one of the oldest active Catholic priests in Italy, is attached to the St. Andrea delle Fratte church. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (K-12C-64-NAB)
Creator:
Keystone (Rome, Italy) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Clergy., Pazzaglia, Giuseppe., Ritrovato, Francesco.
Topics:
Clergy--Italy--Rome., Feast of the Immaculate Conception--Italy--Rome., Processions, Religious--Italy--Rome., Children--Italy--Rome.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (Rome, Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356596
Title:
Italian bagpipers?
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-31920 ITALIAN BAGPIPERS? ROME -- Every Christmas many Italian “bagpipers,” called zampognari, converge on Rome to play Yuletide melodies for an appreciative audience. Here, in Rome Via Frattina, one of them teams up with a “Babbo Natale,” dressed in traditional custom. [sic] Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-12C-64-NAB)
Creator:
ANSA (Organization) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives.
Topics:
Bagpipe--Italy--Rome., Bagpipers--Italy--Rome., Christmas--Italy--Rome., Bagpipers--Social life and customs.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356592
Title:
Pope marks Marian feast.
Creator:
ANSA (Organization) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978.
Topics:
Popes., Christmas--Italy--Rome., Christmas trees--Italy--Rome., Feast of the Immaculate Conception--Italy--Rome.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356591
Title:
Pope returns home from India.
Description:
C-31896 POPE RETURNS HOME FROM INDIA ROME -- A smiling but tired Pope Paul VI acknowledges the warm welcome given to him by a cheering crowd on his arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport from his momentous visit to Bombay, India. Thousands of people holding lighted torches and the ringing of church bells accompanied the Pope during his evening ride to Vatican City. Behind him were a four-day visit to Bombay and an 8,000-mile flight. While in the Indian city -- for the 38th International Eucharist Congress -- the Pope met with many government officials and leaders of non-Catholic religions. At these meetings and in his talks, the Pope’s themes were religious unity, peace and aid to the world’s poor. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (K-12B-64-NAB)
Creator:
Keystone Rome. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978.
Topics:
Papal visits--India--Bombay., Popes., Automobile travel--Italy--Rome.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356587
Title:
Who me?
Creator:
Keystone (Rome, Italy) (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Clergy., Pazzaglia, Giuseppe., Ritrovato, Francesco.
Topics:
Clergy--Italy--Rome., Feast of the Immaculate Conception--Italy--Rome., Processions, Religious--Italy--Rome., Children--Italy--Rome.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (Rome, Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356255
Title:
Pope baptizes Congolese converts.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-32213 POPE BAPTIZES CONGOLESE CONVERTS ROME -- Pope Paul VI baptizes a group of 12 Congolese converts, who later received their first Holy Communion and were Confirmed at the Basilica of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls in Rome. The rites were held in connection with a memorial Mass for 130 Catholic missionaries killed in the Congo since that country’s independence in 1960. In a sermon the Pope condemned the “brutal violation” of basic human rights in recent violence in African nations. Christians have a duty, he said, to “stigmatize such crimes and bring them before the conscience of the world.” Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-3A-65-NAB)
Creator:
Keystone (Rome, Italy) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., San Paolo fuori le mura (Church : Rome, Italy)
Topics:
Popes., Baptism--Catholic Church., Baptism--Italy--Rome., Sacraments--Catholic Church., Catholic converts--Congo (Democratic Republic), Massacres--Congo (Democratic Republic), National liberation movements--Congo (Democratic Republic)
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Congo (Democratic Republic)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:355885
Title:
From red jails to red hats.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-32187 FROM RED JAILS TO RED HATS VATICAN CITY -- These two archbishops who suffered imprisonment at the hands of Communists were among 27 prelates named cardinals by Pope Paul VI at a secret consistory. They are Ukrainian Rite Josyf Cardinal Slipyi, Archbishop of Lwow (left), and Josef Cardinal Beran, Archbishop of Prague. The Eastern Rite cardinal was released in 1963 after 18 years of Soviet confinement, and the Czech archbishop recently arrived in Rome after being freed from more than 15 years of imprisonment and house detention. Pope Paul referred to them at the consistory when he pointed to their “peculiar character and joint glory in the sufferings they had undergone before the eyes of men for the Catholic faith.” Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-2D-65-NAB)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Bishops., Beran, Josef, 1888-1969., Slipyĭ, Ĭosyf, 1892-1984., Ukraïnsʹka katolyt︠s︡ʹka t︠s︡erkva., Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum.
Topics:
Bishops--Italy--Rome., Communism and Christianity--Catholic Church., Communism and Christianity--Czechoslovakia., Communism and Christianity--Ukraine.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:355877
Title:
Actor charged with Vatican bombing.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-32166 ACTOR CHARGED WITH VATICAN BOMBING VATICAN CITY -- Charged by Italian police with the bombing of a Vatican entrance was actor Claudio Volonte, 26, shown wearing a beard for a role in “The Deputy.” He is a brother of actor-producer Gian Maria Volonte, who tried to stage the controversial play in the basement of a deconsecrated Rome church. The drama, which depicts Pope Pius XII as failing to denounce publicly Nazi anti-Jewish crimes, was banned by the Rome Prefecture under the Vatican-Italy concordat which protects the “sacred character” of the Eternal City. The explosion at the Vatican Gate of Santanna on the Via di Porta Angelica injured no one, but caused some damage to buildings and windows. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (U-2C-65-NAB)
Creator:
United Press International. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Pius XII, Pope, 1876-1958--Drama., Camaso, Claudio, 1934-1977.
Topics:
Bombings--Vatican City., Actors--Italy--Rome., Male actors--Italy--Rome., Christianity and antisemitism--Vatican City., Theater--Censorship--Italy--Rome., Censorship--Religious aspects--Catholic Church., Popes.
Geographic subjects:
Rome (Italy), Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:355872

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