• Unhappy Italian climbs onto dome of St Peter's in protest — again

    Andreas Solaro / AFP - Getty Images

    Italian businessman Marcello De Finizio stands on the dome of St Peter's basilica to protest against austerity measures on May 21, 2013 at the Vatican.

    An Italian business owner began a second day on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican to protest economic problems in Italy. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

    By Reuters

    A man climbed onto a ledge on the dome of St Peter's Basilica on Monday and unfurled a banner protesting against a "political horror show," an apparent reference to Italy's embattled coalition struggling with recession and high unemployment.

    Identified by police as Marcello Di Finizio, the man unfurled a white banner reading "Stop this massacre!" in English, scrawled in black and red ink, with "Help us Pope Francis" in Italian.

    Di Finizio, who was still on the ledge on Tuesday, has staged similar protests in the past. Last October he stayed overnight on the dome with a banner criticizing multinationals, Europe, and former Prime Minister Mario Monti. Read the full story.

    Filippo Monteforte / AFP - Getty Images

    Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

  • Long-exposure photo captures seagull flight paths

    Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images

    Slideshow: Animal Tracks: April 24 - May 1

    From a cat bath to peeping chicks and dozing pandas, get your cuteness fix with creatures great and small.

    Launch slideshow

    Seagulls fly over the skies of Rome in this slow-exposure photo taken on May 2.

  • Two policemen shot as new Italian government sworn in

    Vandeville Eric / Abaca

    A policemen is given medical attention after being shot in a square outside the Palace Chigi Premier's office in Rome, Italy, April 28.

    ROME (Reuters) - Enrico Letta was sworn in as Italy's new prime minister on Sunday and immediately faced an emergency after an unemployed man shot two police officers outside his office.

    The 49-year-old gunman, from the poor southern region of Calabria, told investigators he had planned to attack politicians but had found none within range.

    One of the officers was shot in the neck, hitting his spinal cord, and he was in a serious condition, surgeons said. The other was shot in the leg.

    Read the full story.

    Mauro Scrobogna / AP

    Police arrest 49-year-old Luigi Preiti after the shooting.

    Angelo Carconi / EPA

    Forensic police investigate the site of the shooting.

     

  • Competitive dough-tossers showcase pizza skills

    Marco Vasini / AP

    Bradley Johnson, of United States, performs with his dough during the freestyle event, part of the Pizza World Championships, in Parma, northern Italy on Wednesday. The 22th edition of the championships run from April 15 to April 17.

    Marco Vasini / AP

    Juan Ramirez Hermosillo, of Mexico, performs with his dough during the acrobatic pizza event.

    Marco Vasini / AP

    Alessandro Colluccino, of Italy, performs with his dough during the acrobatic pizza event.

     

  • Mount Etna blows smoke ring during volcanic eruptions

    Antonio Parrinello / Reuters

    Italy's volcanic Mount Etna spews lava during an eruption on the southern Italian island of Sicily on April 11, 2013. Mount Etna is Europe's tallest and most active volcano.

    Antonio Parrinello / Reuters

    Antonio Parrinello / Reuters

    A round circle of smoke coming from the mouth of Etna is seen in the sky during an eruption on the southern Italian island of Sicily on April 11, 2013.

    Antonio Parrinello / Reuters

    Antonio Parrinello / Reuters

    See more photos of Mount Etna's eruptions on PhotoBlog.

     

  • Faithful flock to St. Peter's Square for inauguration of Pope Francis

    Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

    In this 360 degree photo, Pope Francis greets the faithful during the Inauguration Mass for Pope Francis in St Peter's Square on March 19, 2013 in Vatican City. Use the navigation buttons to move left, right or to zoom.

    Max Rossi / Reuters

    Pope Francis waves as he arrives in Saint Peter's Square for his inaugural mass at the Vatican. Pope Francis celebrates his inaugural mass on Tuesday among political and religious leaders from around the world and amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church.

    Tony Gentile / Reuters

    Pope Francis arrives in Saint Peter's Square for his inaugural mass at the Vatican, on March 19. Pope Francis celebrates his inaugural mass on Tuesday among political and religious leaders from around the world and amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church.

    Claudio Peri / EPA

    Pope Francis blesses a child as he arrives in St. Peter's square for his inauguration mass, Vatican City, on March 19. Thousands of faithful, as well as political and religious dignitaries from all over the world, were expected to attend the inauguration mass of Pope Francis.

    Alessandro Di Meo / EPA

    Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the papamobile during his inauguration mass in St. Peter's square, Vatican City, March 19. Hundreds of thousands of faithful, as well as political and religious dignitaries from all over the world, were expected to attend the inauguration mass of Pope Francis.

    Slideshow: The election of Pope Francis

    Gregorio Borgia / AP

    Cardinals from around the world gathered in the Vatican to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

    Launch slideshow

    By Claudio Lavanga and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News

    Pope Francis issued an appeal for the protection of the weak, the poor and the world environment Tuesday at a special Mass marking his inauguration as the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

    During the homily, he told a crowd of up to 200,000 gathered in front of the Vatican: “I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.” Continue reading this story here.

     

  • Checks in as cardinal, pays bill as Pope Francis

    Osservatore Romano via Reuters

    Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, checks out of the church-run residence on March 14, where he had been staying in Rome. Pope Francis returned on Thursday to the Church-run residence where he was staying before becoming pontiff, and insisted on paying the bill, despite now effectively being in charge of the business, the Vatican said.

    Slideshow: Pope Francis: His life before the papacy

    Marcos Brindicci / Reuters

    Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected to lead the Catholic Church following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. 

    Launch slideshow

    By Alastair Jamieson and Claudio Lavanga, NBC News

    The Latin American pope’s election shattered Europe's centuries-old grip on the papacy, and his choice of name — in honor of the 12th century saint from Assisi — is widely seen as a nod to a new era of simplicity.

    Lombardi said Pope Francis declined the official papal car for his first journey from the Sistine Chapel, choosing instead to board a bus with cardinals who had just elected him.

    Later, at dinner, the new pope prompted laughter by responding to their toast with the remark: "May god forgive you for what you have done."

    Francis returned Thursday to the church-run hostel where he had stayed ahead of the conclave and insisted on paying the bill.

    "He was concerned about giving a good example of what priests and bishops should do," a Vatican spokesman said. He did not disclose how much the bill totaled. Read more.

    Story: Trading in the bus for a butler: The new pope's new lifestyle

    Editor's note: NBC News received this photo on March 15

  • Exuberant nuns celebrate at the Vatican as new pope is elected

    Emilio Morenatti / AP

    A nun reacts after white smoke billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel indicating that a new pope has been elected in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on March 13, 2013.

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    A nun reacts as newly elected Pope Francis appears on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican.

    Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images

    Nuns react after Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis on March 13, 2013 at St Peter's square at the Vatican.

    Guido Montana / EPA

    Nuns show their emotions as they hear the news that a new pope has been elected as they join pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square, on March 13, 2013.

    Emilio Morenatti / AP

    People react after white smoke billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel indicating that a new pope has been elected in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on March 13, 2013.

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    People talk in St Peter's Square after newly elected Pope Francis I appeared on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican.

    Spencer Platt / Getty Images

    People stand in St. Peter's Square as they listen to newly elected pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, who will take the name Pope Francis, on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican.

    Ghazi Balkiz / NBC News

    A nun smiles and claps her hands at St. Peter's Square outside the Vatican in Rome as Pope Frances addresses the crowd for the first time, on March 13, 2013.

    Becky Bratu, Staff Writer, NBC News writes:
    As the last puffs of white smoke dissipated at the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, women religious in the United States received the news of the pope's election with a mix of surprise and hope that he would shepherd the church through its current crisis.

    Read full story.

    Also see:

    Emilio Morenatti / AP

    A nun reacts after white smoke billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel indicating that a new pope has been elected in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on March 13, 2013.

  • Naples 'City of Science' complex burns

    Ciro Fusco / EPA

    View of a huge fire at the 'City of Science' in Naples, Italy, on March 4.

    Ciro Fusco / EPA

    View of a huge fire at the 'City of Science' in Naples, Italy, on March 4.

    Cesare Abbate / EPA

    Members of the fire services continue to hose down a smouldering building amid the scene of devastation in Naples on March 5 following the night time blaze that destroyed much of the southern Italian port's City of Science complex.
    Fire Brigades in action the day after the massive blaze that destroyed much of Naples Città della Scienza

    From Corriere della Sera:  Naples, Italy - Four pavilions have been gutted by fire at Naples’ Città della Scienza [Science City], the interactive museum considered one of the city’s cultural treasures. The entire Città della Scienza site, which has a total of six pavilions, has been placed under judicial seizure. When fire fighters arrived on the scene on Monday evening, they found flames had swept the whole of the sea-front museum zone, except for the theatre.  Continue reading this story here.

  • Astronaut witnesses Mount Etna's blast of ash

    Chris Hadfield / CSA via Twitter

    Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield snapped this photo of Italy's Mount Etna from the International Space Station.

    By Becky Oskin
    Our Amazing Planet

    Astronaut Chris Hadfield, the planet's most popular space shutterbug, snapped a spectacular photo of Italy's Mount Etna volcano streaming ash toward the sea early Thursday.

    The volcano experienced the latest in a series of strong paroxysms, or short violent bursts, on Wednesday. For the first time, explosions and ash spewed into the air from Mount Etna's Voragine crater, while webcams trained on the fiery summit showed activity at Bocca Nuova crater as well.

    Mount Etna's current eruption started with a stunning dawn lava fountain on Feb. 19, caught on video, followed in quick succession by three more paroxysms over the next two days. Then, on Feb. 23, lava fountains shot out from Bocca Nuova crater to a height of more than 2,600 feet (800 meters).

    Ash cloaks the volcano's snow-covered slopes, but not enough to deter skiers. Small lava flows have also emerged from the most active craters. The volcano has four distinct craters at its summit: the two central craters, Bocca Nuova and Voragine; the northeast crater; and a new southeast crater.

    Hadfield, an astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency, is aboard the International Space Station. He regularly posts amazing images of Earth on his Twitter feed.

    Slideshow: Month in Space: February 2013

    See more of astronaut Chris Hadfield's photos from the International Space Station, plus lots of other cosmic views, in the Month in Space Pictures slideshow for February.

    Launch slideshow

    Reach Becky Oskin at boskin@techmedianetwork.com. Follow her on Twitter @beckyoskin. Follow OurAmazingPlanet on Twitter @OAPlanet. We're also on Facebook and Google+.

    Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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