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May 17, 2013
Vatican Legal: Church teaching doesn't change, but church laws can
Like any society, the Catholic Church has laws, and while the tenets of its faith do not change, its laws do need to be adapted to the changing situations in which its members try to live out their faith.
May 17, 2013
Missio: Pope Francis unlocks app for Pontifical Mission Societies
With slightly more of a swipe than a tap, Pope Francis helped the Pontifical Mission Societies of the United States broaden its reach around the world by unlocking a smartphone app.
May 17, 2013
Recognize your sin, ask forgiveness, pope says at Mass
The key problem in everyone's relationship with God is not that they sin, but that they are not ashamed of their sin and don't ask forgiveness, Pope Francis said.
May 16, 2013
When church is too serious, it loses its loving, tender side, pope says
The church has ended up with "deviations, sects and heresies when it got too serious, that is, when it took things here too seriously and it forgot about embracing and tenderness," Pope Francis told representatives of Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella organization of national Catholic charities around the world.
May 16, 2013
Church needs believers with zeal, not couch-potato Catholics, pope says
The church doesn't need couch-potato Catholics, it needs believers with "apostolic zeal," willing to preach the uncomfortable words of Christ, Pope Francis said.
May 16, 2013
Pope calls for global, ethical finance reform, end to cult of money
"Money has to serve, not to rule," he said in his strongest remarks yet as pope concerning the world's economic and financial crises.
May 15, 2013
Marian statue connects pope's native city of Buenos Aires with Sardinia
The name of the Argentine capital resulted from a compromise between the city's Spanish founder, Pedro de Mendoza, and the Sardinian sailors who sailed his ship and were devoted to their island's patroness, Our Lady of Bonaria, Pope Francis said.
May 15, 2013
Archbishop says people returning to confession because of pope
The president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization said he repeatedly has heard reports that "a lot of people have been going to confession and many have said that while they hadn't gone in a long time, they felt touched by the words of Pope Francis."
May 15, 2013
Pope asks prayers for pastors that they not become 'wolves'
Pope Francis asked Catholics to pray for their bishops and priests, asking God to help them be real shepherds who are poor, humble and meek.
May 15, 2013
Vatican tells cardinal to leave Scotland for period of prayer, penance
Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who resigned as archbishop after admitting to sexual misconduct, will leave Scotland "for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance," the Vatican said.
May 15, 2013
Pope says there are no part-time Christians; faith is a full-time job
Catholics can't put their faith on a part-time schedule or rely on it just for the moments they choose; being Christian is a full-time occupation, Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
May 14, 2013
Vatican commissions art for display at Venice international exhibition
After years of discussion and at least one failed attempt, the Vatican will open a pavilion at the 2013 Venice Bienniale, a major international contemporary art exhibition.
May 14, 2013
Pope: Satan tricks people into being selfish, leaving them loveless
Payback with Satan is rotten as he pushes people to be loveless and selfish, finally leaving them with nothing and alone, Pope Francis said.
May 13, 2013
Tens of thousands march for life in Rome
U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke and U.S. pro-life leaders joined tens of thousands of demonstrators in Italy's third annual March for Life May 12, which ended with a personal greeting from Pope Francis.
May 13, 2013
Pope warns comfortable living causes 'gentrification of the heart'
The pope's words came in a homily during Mass in St. Peter's Square May 12, when he canonized the first Colombian saint, as well as a Mexican nun and some 800 Italians martyred by Ottoman Turks in the 15th century.
May 13, 2013
Pope: Holy Spirit reminds people they once were lost, now found by God
The Holy Spirit is more than a pretty dove; it is an integral part of the Trinity and deserves a prime place in people's lives, Pope Francis said.
May 13, 2013
Focusing on self rather than Jesus makes prayer boring, pope says
If a person's prayer life is boring, that generally means that he or she is focused too much on the self and not enough on Jesus and the needs of others, Pope Francis said during a morning Mass homily.
May 10, 2013
Under soot: Spring cleaning means sometimes finding forgotten gems
A little bit of spring cleaning or a much needed renovation can turn up the most unexpected things -- especially if you're sprucing up or digging through the Vatican.
May 10, 2013
Pope says Catholics, Coptic Orthodox united by 'ecumenism of suffering'
"Just as the blood of the martyrs was a seed of strength and fertility for the church, so too the sharing of daily sufferings can become an effective instrument of unity," Pope Francis told the leader of 10 million Coptic Orthodox Christians.
May 10, 2013
Sourpusses hurt the church's witness, mission, pope says at Mass
Using a phrase that translates literally as "the face of a pickled pepper," Pope Francis said that when Christians have more of a sourpuss than a face that communicates the joy of being loved by God, they harm the witness of the church.
May 8, 2013
Pope says evangelists build bridges, not walls
Like Jesus, who dined with Pharisees and sinners, and St. Paul, who preached to idol worshippers, true evangelizers build bridges that lead unbelievers into the church, not walls to protect it, Pope Francis said.
May 8, 2013
Cardinal says both sides in LCWR case must be open to dialogue
A day after the Vatican issued a statement saying the congregations for doctrine and for religious were united in wanting a reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the head of the congregation for religious repeated his call for more dialogue with the sisters.
May 8, 2013
Pope tells sisters the church needs them, they need the church
Pope Francis told 800 superiors of women's orders from around the world that the Catholic Church needs religious women and that religious women need to be in harmony with the faith and teachings of the church.
May 8, 2013
Only Holy Spirit can fill hearts thirsting for love, peace, pope says
Listen to the Holy Spirit because he is giving people the good news that God loves them and can renew, purify and transform their lives, Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
May 7, 2013
How a postage stamp delivered one boy a dream of being a Swiss Guard
One young man's dream of becoming a Swiss Guard began with a postage stamp. Michael Odermatt said that when he was a small child, his godfather gave him a stamp depicting the ornately dressed papal soldier "and I was fascinated by that image and wanted to know everything about the Swiss Guard."
May 7, 2013
In Brazil, pope to meet slum-dwellers, politicians, world's youth
Pope Francis will meet slum-dwellers and powerful politicians, pay homage at a Marian shrine and celebrate with participants at World Youth Day when he visits Brazil in late July (includes full schedule).
May 7, 2013
Vatican says its congregations collaborate, including on LCWR decision
Two days after the head of the Vatican office overseeing religious life said he had not been consulted by the Vatican's doctrinal office about a controversial investigation of American nuns, the two bodies affirmed their "common commitment" to reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
May 7, 2013
Pope says Christians must learn to patiently endure trials, each other
Patience in the midst of trials and patiently putting up with other people are marks of Christian maturity, Pope Francis told ushers and other staff members of the office that cleans and repairs St. Peter's Basilica and watches over the millions of people who visit it each year.
May 6, 2013
Elderly face danger of 'covert euthanasia,' pope says in book
While the fight to preserve life is often centered on abortion and capital punishment, the future Pope Francis also warned against a more subtle form of disregard for human dignity: what he called "covert euthanasia."
May 6, 2013
Pope celebrates diversity of popular piety, unity of church
Pope Francis celebrated popular piety as a means of transmitting the faith and cultivating it in ordinary Catholics but said such piety must be practiced in communion with the hierarchy in order to maintain the church's unity.
May 6, 2013
Only defense against devil, hatred is word of God, humility, pope says
The devil hates Christians, Pope Francis said, because "we have been saved and the prince of the world doesn't want us to be saved, he hates us and gave rise to the persecutions from the time of Jesus to today."
May 6, 2013
Cardinal says dialogue was missing from Vatican's look at LCWR
The Vatican-ordered revision of the statutes of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious will continue, but it must be accompanied with a real dialogue, which has been missing from the process, said the prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
May 6, 2013
Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, pope says at rosary
Marking Catholics' traditional celebration of May as the month of Mary, Pope Francis led the recitation of the rosary May 4 at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
May 3, 2013
St. Mary Major: monument to Mary as protector of the church
The first of Rome's four major basilicas to receive a visit from Pope Francis after his election was not St. Peter's but the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest church in the West dedicated to the mother of Jesus.
May 3, 2013
Pope, Lebanese president appeal for aid for Syrian refugees
Meeting at the Vatican May 3, Pope Francis and Lebanese President Michel Sleiman called on the international community to offer concrete aid to Lebanon and other countries hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria.
May 3, 2013
Pope: People have guts to be ambitious; instead, be courageous for God
People are courageous in pursuing their careers, personal ambitions and jealousies, but they really should be using that courage to believe in the resurrected Christ, pray to him and spread the Gospel, Pope Francis said.
May 1, 2013
Saying 'yes' to God's love makes saying 'no' to sin easier, pope says
The Christian faith is about saying "yes" to God's love and forgiveness in a way that saying "no" to sin will come naturally, Pope Francis said at his early morning Mass.
May 1, 2013
Pope: Unemployment, slave labor go against God's plan, human dignity
The problem of unemployment is "very often caused by a purely economic view of society, which seeks self-centered profit, outside the bounds of social justice," he said, marking the May 1 feast of St. Joseph the Worker during his weekly general audience.
May 1, 2013
Strong faith is key to church unity, says doctrinal congregation head
The unity of the Catholic Church rises or falls to the degree that its members uncompromisingly hold firm to the faith transmitted by the apostles, said Archbishop Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
April 30, 2013
Retired Pope Benedict set to return to Vatican May 2
Retired Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to move into a remodeled convent at the Vatican May 2, the Vatican spokesman said.
April 30, 2013
Vatican official says curia reform needs time, dismisses bank rumors
Amid widespread speculation about a complete and quick reorganization of Vatican departments and rumors in the Italian media that Pope Francis was going to close the Vatican bank, a top Vatican official told everyone to calm down.
April 30, 2013
Becoming worldly, weak is church's biggest threat, pope says
A worldly church becomes weak, and while people of faith can look after the church, only God "can look evil in the eye and overpower it," he said April 30.
April 30, 2013
Israeli president invites pope to visit Jerusalem
Israeli President Shimon Peres officially invited Pope Francis to Israel and left their meeting at the Vatican telling the pope, "I am expecting you in Jerusalem and not just me, but all the people of Israel."
April 29, 2013
Last step to confirmation by pope was nerve-wracking, U.S. teens say
Both Brigid Miniter and Anthony Merejo said the last step -- literally the last step -- they took to their confirmation was the one that made them nervous.
April 29, 2013
Pope: Confession is not like dry cleaners, but is encounter with Jesus
Pope: Confession is not like dry cleaners, but is encounter with Jesus
Going to confession isn't like heading off to be tortured or punished, nor is it like going to the dry cleaners to get out a stain, Pope Francis said in a morning Mass homily.
April 29, 2013
Pope tells young to 'swim against the tide; it's good for the heart’
Administering the sacrament of confirmation to 44 people, including two teenagers from the United States and two from Ireland, Pope Francis encouraged them to "swim against the tide; it's good for the heart."
April 26, 2013
Original research team member says science still can't explain Shroud of Turin
Raised in an Orthodox Jewish home, "it took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I'm a Jew and involved with probably the most important relic of Christianity," says Barrie Schwortz.
April 26, 2013
Corruption is worse than sin because heart hardens to God, pope says
People who are corrupt have become blind to the transcendent, replacing God with their own powers and abilities, said the pope when he was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
April 26, 2013
Christian life is a time to prepare to enjoy heaven, pope says
The Christian life is about allowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit to prepare each person to truly see and enjoy the beauty of eternal life, Pope Francis said in a morning Mass homily.
April 25, 2013
Human evolution: Science, faith explore the mysterious emergence of man
In its continuing dialogue with world-renowned scientific experts, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences brought together evolutionary biologists, paleoanthropologists, archaeologists, neuroscientists, theologians and philosophers to discuss the major physical and cultural changes that occurred during mankind's evolution.
April 25, 2013
Preach the Gospel with courage, humility, pope says at Mass
Christians should pray for great courage and great humility as they respond to the call of Jesus to share his Gospel with the world, Pope Francis said.
April 25, 2013
Pope Francis' first encyclical might be out this year, says spokesman
It is not unusual for a pope to pick up work begun by his predecessor, make changes and publish it in his own name.
April 25, 2013
Vatican official says July trip to Brazil being tailored to new pope
Visiting Rio de Janeiro, the chief organizer of papal trips confirmed Pope Francis will participate in the key events of World Youth Day July 23-28 and he said other parts of the papal trip are being tailor-made for the new pope.
April 24, 2013
Church is driven by Holy Spirit, not officials or militants, pope says
Pope Francis also warned against letting the church's mission get lost in a tangle of bureaucracy, saying the church administration is necessary only so long as it supports the wider mission of love.
April 24, 2013
Prepare for Last Judgment by serving the poor, pope says at audience
Christians believe they are saved by God's grace, but they also know they will be judged at the end of time on how they used the talents God gave them and how they served others, especially the poor, Pope Francis said.
April 23, 2013
Italian media report progress in Blessed John Paul's sainthood cause
A Vatican-convoked commission of doctors concluded a healing attributed to Blessed John Paul II had no natural explanation, according to Italian news reports.
April 23, 2013
One cannot follow Jesus, love Jesus without the church, pope says
Following Jesus means belonging to the church, the community that gives Christians their identity, Pope Francis said.
April 23, 2013
Pope offers prayers for Orthodox archbishops kidnapped in Syria
Pope Francis is offering "intense prayers" for the safety and liberation of two Orthodox archbishops kidnapped in Syria, for effective responses to the humanitarian crisis created by the fighting there and for peace in the nation, the Vatican spokesman said.
April 22, 2013
Vatican official says Archbishop Romero's sainthood cause 'unblocked'
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and the official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, said the process to beatify and eventually canonize the slain Salvadoran archbishop has been unblocked.
April 22, 2013
Pope speaks on dangers of being 'climbers' and 'good-sense Christians'
Following Jesus isn't complicated, but it may take courage and it always requires recognizing that human beings aren't God, Pope Francis said in two of his morning Mass homilies.
April 22, 2013
Pope ordains new priests, talks about learning to hear Jesus' voice
Before ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis prayed privately with them in the sacristy and entrusted them to Mary's care.
April 19, 2013
Papal stargazer, graffiti artist, rabbi hit stage for religious rights
A Kuwaiti princess, a Jesuit astronomer, a British-born rabbi, a former NBA star, a Muslim graffiti artist and the Cuban-American singing sensation Gloria Estefan all took the stage at a Rome concert hall not far from St. Peter's Square for a conference dedicated to religious freedom in the world today.
April 19, 2013
Vatican office works to create community of 'one heart'
Traveling deep into the Amazon basin in a canoe filled with medicine, food and young missionaries to visit remote villages sounds like an extraordinary adventure, but for Father Peter Bui, it was part of a journey to share the love of Christ with the poor.
April 19, 2013
Pope says ideological interpretations 'falsify the Gospel'
All ideological interpretations of Christianity falsify the Gospel by looking at it purely through the intellect, without regard to love or beauty, Pope Francis said April 19.
April 19, 2013
Citing financial problems, Vatican withholds election-year staff bonus
In an austerity move like those being taken by governments around the world, the Vatican will not pay its employees a bonus marking the March 13 election of Pope Francis but will instead make a donation to charity.
April 18, 2013
Battle with the devil: Pope Francis frames the fight in Jesuit terms
In the teaching of Pope Francis, the devil has a more dastardly agenda than just convincing people to break one of the Ten Commandments; "the enemy" wants them to feel weak, worthless and always ready to complain or gossip.
April 18, 2013
Pope: God is real, concrete person, not mysterious, intangible mist
God is a real person -- a father -- and faith springs forth from a tangible experience of an encounter with him, the pope told his listeners at early morning Mass April 18.
April 18, 2013
Pope calls for prayers for victims of Texas factory explosion
In a short message sent from his @Pontifex Twitter account, the pope told the more than 2.3 million followers on his English account to "Please join me in praying for the victims of the explosion in Texas and their families."
April 17, 2013
Failure to evangelize makes 'mother church' a 'baby sitter,' pope says
All of the baptized and not just the clergy are called to spread the Gospel, even in times of persecution, Pope Francis said in his morning homily April 17.
April 17, 2013
Best defense against sin, temptation is Jesus, pope says at audience
Surrounded by the devil's temptations and being susceptible to sin, people can always find help, support and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
April 16, 2013
Pope Francis wishes Pope Benedict happy birthday
Pope Francis offered his early morning Mass as a prayer for Pope Benedict XVI on the retired pontiff's birthday, then phoned his predecessor later to personally convey his best wishes for his 86th birthday.
April 16, 2013
Pope Francis says Catholics still need to enact teachings of Vatican II
While some Catholics would like to undo the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, others basically are trying to build a monument to it rather than fully live its teachings, Pope Francis said.
April 16, 2013
Pope's G-8: Troubleshooters, outspoken leaders will help reform curia
The eight cardinals named by Pope Francis to begin work on ways to reorganize the Roman Curia are predominantly active archbishops of very large archdioceses, but they also have a wide range of pastoral and organizational experiences and skills.
April 16, 2013
Pope offers prayers for victims, first responders in Boston
In a message sent to Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said Pope Francis was "deeply grieved by the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of violence perpetrated" near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
April 15, 2013
Pope Francis reaffirms Vatican's call for reform of U.S. nuns' group
Archbishop Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the U.S.-based nuns' group that he had "recently discussed the doctrinal assessment with Pope Francis, who reaffirmed the findings of the assessment and the program of reform for this conference of major superiors."
April 15, 2013
Christian credibility undermined by hypocrisy, pope says
The credibility of Christianity is undermined by pastors and faithful who preach one thing and do another, Pope Francis said.
April 15, 2013
Pope names international panel of cardinals to advise on Vatican reform
Amid rising concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the central administration of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis named an international panel of cardinals to advise him on the latest reform of the Vatican bureaucracy.
April 12, 2013
North American College breaks ground for $7 million expansion
The U.S. seminary in Rome embarked April 12 on a $7 million project to build a 10-story, 36,000-square-foot tower to house high-tech classrooms, practice chapels.
April 12, 2013
St. Paul Outside the Walls: monument to a church of evangelization
The Apostle Paul, whose tomb lies under the basilica's main altar, brought the Gospel to peoples across the central and eastern Mediterranean.
April 12, 2013
To understand Bible, one must understand its nature, pope says
The Catholic faith is not centered simply on a book -- the Bible -- but on Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, Pope Francis said.
April 12, 2013
Growing presence demands increased responsibilities, say Latino leaders
The Catholic Church is reaching out and assigning greater responsibility to the growing Latino Catholic population, said a group of U.S. Catholic Latino leaders.
April 11, 2013
Pope thanks U.S. foundation for fight against poverty, work for peace
Pope Francis met privately with members of the U.S.-based Papal Foundation and their families.
April 11, 2013
Vatican office looks at challenges facing couples from different faiths
Catholics need to know that marrying someone from a different religion will create extra challenges in their marriage, but church leaders also must learn how to help people in mixed marriages meet those challenges, a Vatican official said.
April 10, 2013
Being Christian means acting, loving like Christ, pope says at audience
A Christian isn't a person who simply follows some commandments, but is a person who tries to think like Christ, "act like him, love like him," Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
April 10, 2013
God's love is source of salvation, dignity, hope, pope says at Mass
Pope Francis spoke about the beauty of love during his morning Mass at the Vatican guesthouse where he has been living.
April 9, 2013
Pope, U.N. head meet, discuss crises in Syria, Korean peninsula
Recognizing the important role each other plays on the global stage, Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met at the Vatican April 9, discussing common efforts to promote peace and protect human dignity.
April 9, 2013
Meekness sows harmony in church; gossip sows division, pope says
Christians need to recover the value of meekness, particularly when they are tempted to speak ill of one another or gossip about each other, Pope Francis said April 9 during his early morning Mass.
April 8, 2013
Pope names head of Franciscans to Vatican office overseeing religious
In his first appointment to the curia, Pope Francis named the superior of the Franciscans as secretary of the Vatican office that oversees the world's religious orders.
April 8, 2013
At Rome's cathedral, Pope Francis celebrates God's patience
The Mass was the occasion for Pope Francis to take formal possession of the "cathedra" (chair) of the bishop of Rome. Shortly after the start of the liturgy, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, papal vicar for Rome, read a profession of obedience to the pope on behalf of the diocese.
April 5, 2013
St. John Lateran: Symbol of church's coexistence with secular power
Since his first public remarks on the night of his election March 13, Pope Francis has impressed many observers with a marked preference for describing himself not as the pope but as the bishop of Rome -- a role he was scheduled to assume in a special way April 7 by celebrating his first Mass in the city's cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
April 5, 2013
Master of metaphor: Pope Francis can weave a vivid tale
Metaphors are used extensively in the Bible and they pop up just as often in Pope Francis' talks and teachings.
April 5, 2013
Pope urges doctrinal office to act 'decisively' against sex abuse
Pope Francis reaffirmed the importance of responding decisively to the problem of the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy and called on the Vatican office dealing with suspected cases to continue carrying out its mandate.
April 4, 2013
Safeguarding creation expected to be major theme at WYD in Rio
When hundreds of thousands of young Catholics gather with Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro in the summer, reflections on safeguarding the environment will be part of the program.
April 4, 2013
Pope expresses his closeness to victims of flooding in Buenos Aires
Affirming his closeness to his "beloved Argentine people," Pope Francis offered his prayers for the victims of recent flooding in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, and he urged government offices and private citizens to help those most in need.
April 3, 2013
Pope's spring calendar filled with liturgies, Year of Faith events
Releasing the calendar of Pope Francis' liturgical celebrations for April and May, the Vatican confirmed he would keep the Year of Faith appointments set by his predecessor, retired Pope Benedict XVI.
April 3, 2013
Constant complaining keeps one from noticing Jesus' presence, pope says
Complaining frequently and stewing over disappointments can easily become an obsession that blocks one's view of Jesus' presence in difficult situations, Pope Francis said.
April 3, 2013
Homebody, soccer fan, tango-lover -- some papal pastimes revealed
Here are a few of Pope Francis' favorite things, which he revealed in a series of interviews granted while he was archbishop of Buenos Aires.
April 3, 2013
Pope says women's love makes them privileged witnesses of Christ
Women have a privileged role in the church because of their ability to pass on the faith through love, Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
April 2, 2013
Can't chant, can't speak English? Pope says it's because he's tone-deaf
After a musically proficient and polyglot Pope Benedict XVI, it came as a surprise to many that Pope Francis doesn't sing or chant at Mass or speak foreign languages in public.
April 2, 2013
Archbishop: Love is important part of therapy for those with autism
While the medical world makes technological advancements, it must not forget the power of love and affection in helping those with autism and their families, a Vatican official said in a message marking World Autism Awareness Day April 2.
April 2, 2013
Pope: Confession is place to experience mercy, grace
In his first seven homilies, Pope Francis repeatedly talked about mercy and grace, recounting anecdotes about asking God for forgiveness and ensuring people that God always is ready to welcome them back.
April 1, 2013
Pope urges Catholics to let grace transform, work through them
On Easter Monday, a public holiday in Italy, tens of thousands of people gathered to see the pope in St. Peter's Square, still decorated with daffodils, tulips and other spring plants. Popes recite the "Regina Coeli" (Queen of Heaven) prayer instead of the Angelus from Easter until Pentecost.
April 1, 2013
At Rome's Colosseum, pope says cross is God's response to evil
Gazing from a hillside overlooking Rome's Colosseum, where thousands of people gathered to pray the Way of the Cross, Pope Francis said Christ's cross is God's response to evil in the world.
April 1, 2013
Image on Turin shroud is reminder of God's love, pope says in message
Gazing upon the image of a crucified man on the Shroud of Turin, Catholics contemplate Jesus and are called on to remember his great love for them and for all who suffer, Pope Francis said.
March 31, 2013
At Easter, pope calls Christians to be channels of mercy, justice, peace
Pope Francis said he would like to bring the good news of Christ's resurrection to each person on earth.
March 29, 2013
Pope leads Good Friday liturgy, begins rite in silent prayer, adoration
Lying prostrate on the floor before the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion.
March 29, 2013
Looking out for No. 2: Who will be Vatican secretary of state?
Of the several widely acknowledged priorities in the run-up to the conclave that chose Pope Francis, none was more prominent than a need to reform the Roman Curia.
March 28, 2013
Pope washes feet of 12 young detainees to serve them 'from the heart'
Pope Francis told young inmates that, just as Jesus came to help and serve others, he, too, was at their service as a priest and bishop.
March 28, 2013
Pope recognizes martyrs from communist, fascist regimes
An Italian priest who died in a Nazi concentration camp and two victims of Soviet-bloc regimes during the Cold War were among those recognized as martyrs by Pope Francis March 27.
March 28, 2013
Pope Francis says good priests bring joy, comfort to those in need
Pope Francis called on the world's priests to bring the healing power of God's grace to everyone in need, to stay close to the marginalized and to be "shepherds living with the smell of the sheep."
March 27, 2013
Same symbols, different details: Papal coat of arms undergoes changes
The papal coat of arms has undergone a few major adjustments to more clearly reflect the symbolism of Mary and St. Joseph.
March 27, 2013
Self-absorption is root of evils within church, future pope said
GEvils within the church are caused by a self-centeredness and "theological narcissism" that forget to share Christ with people outside of the church, Pope Francis said in the days before his election.
March 27, 2013
Christians must resist 'dark joy' of gossiping, pope says
Gossiping about someone is a "dark joy" that Christians must resist because it is a betrayal like Judas' betrayal of Jesus, Pope Francis said.
March 27, 2013
Holy Week is time to follow Jesus in search of lost sheep, pope says
The pope began his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square March 27 very simply, saying in Italian: "Good morning. I'm happy to welcome you to my first general audience."
March 26, 2013
Pope Francis to live in Vatican guesthouse, not papal apartments
Pope Francis has decided not to move into the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, but to live in a suite in the Vatican guesthouse where he has been since the beginning of the conclave that elected him.
March 25, 2013
Cardinal Levada travels to Assisi to pray for new pope
"When I was in the Sistine Chapel and the Holy Father announced that he had chosen the name Francis, I thought, 'Now I must go to Assisi as soon as I can ... so I can ask the intercession of his patron saint -- Italy's patron saint -- for his new Petrine ministry,'" Cardinal Levada said.
March 25, 2013
Pope Francis wishes Jewish community happy Passover, asks for prayers
A few hours before Rome's Jewish community was to begin its Passover observances, Pope Francis sent a brief note praying that God would bless them and asking community members for their prayers.
March 25, 2013
Lebanese youths lament violence, emigration in Way of Cross reflections
Meditating on Christ's passion and the ways people contribute to his suffering, Lebanese youths lamented the ongoing emigration from and violence in the Middle East, divisions among Christians, the abuse of women and children, and the promotion of abortion.
March 25, 2013
Vatican confirms pope to lead full slate of Holy Week, Easter liturgies
The Vatican confirmed Pope Francis will lead a full slate of Holy Week and Easter liturgies in Rome and at the Vatican, keeping pace with a usually busy papal schedule.
March 25, 2013
Pope on Palm Sunday: Christ's passion leads to joy
Pope Francis celebrated his first Palm Sunday Mass as pope March 24, telling an overflow crowd in St. Peter's Square that Christ's death on the cross is a source of eternal consolation and joy.
March 25, 2013
Pope Francis meets retired Pope Benedict, says 'we're brothers'
With a warm embrace, a helping hand, shared prayer, a long discussion and lunch together, Pope Francis spent several hours with retired Pope Benedict XVI March 23 at the papal summer villa.
March 22, 2013
Vatican workers join pope for early morning Masses
Dressed in orange safety vests, green jumpsuits or other workers' attire, Vatican gardeners, garbage collectors and cleaning crews joined Pope Francis for a 7 a.m. Mass March 22.
March 22, 2013
Syrian bishop says war saddens him, but he does not despair
Ministering in a time of war in his hometown, the Chaldean Catholic bishop of Aleppo, Syria, said: "Deep down, I'm not frightened, I'm not scared. I'm sad."
March 22, 2013
Pope Francis to diplomats: Moral relativism endangers peace
Addressing the Vatican’s diplomatic corps, Pope Francis lamented both material poverty and the "spiritual poverty of our time.”
March 21, 2013
Table time: Pope discusses, prays, dines with Orthodox representatives
Pastors and theologians involved in ecumenical dialogue emphasize the importance of "table time" -- sharing meals -- along with serious theological discussions, shared prayer and joint action.
March 21, 2013
Vatican security scrambling, yet prepared for pope's love of the scrum
Pope Francis' style of breaking away from his security detail and diving toward the crowds means his protectors have had to do a quick rewrite of strategy, sometimes on the spot.
March 21, 2013
Nobel laureate: Pope preferred silent diplomacy during 'dirty war'
Pope Francis preferred carrying out "a silent diplomacy" in helping victims versus leading a more public outcry during Argentina's "dirty war," said an Argentine Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
March 21, 2013
Pope Francis changes Holy Thursday plans to celebrate Mass in prison
Pope Francis has decided to celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper in a Rome juvenile detention facility and wash the feet of some of the young detainees.
March 20, 2013
Vendors offer increasing numbers of items with papal image
Vendors lining the street in front of St. Peter's Square offer items ranging from pencils to candles with the pope's image on them, and customers could find magnets of "Papa Francesco" nestled between pictures of retired Pope Benedict XVI and "I love Roma" bracelets.
March 20, 2013
Pope says religions must cooperate to remind humanity God exists
For the good of all people, the care of the poor and the future of the Earth, religions must cooperate in reminding modern men and women that God exists and has a plan for their lives and their behavior, Pope Francis said.
March 20, 2013
Pope Francis calls his predecessor, wishing him happy name day
Pope Francis telephoned retired Pope Benedict XVI, the former Joseph Ratzinger, to wish him a happy "name day" on the feast of St. Joseph.
March 19, 2013
Pilgrims rise early to get spot to welcome Pope Francis
Michael Vazquez of Windermere, Fla., woke up at 4:30 a.m. just to be sure he and his friends got to St. Peter's Square on time for the inauguration of Pope Francis.
March 19, 2013
Pope chooses silver ring, pallium style in keeping with predecessor
With his fisherman's ring and the pallium -- the main symbols of the Petrine office -- Pope Francis chose styles in continuity with two of his predecessors.
March 19, 2013
Changes in style send clear message from Pope Francis
Pope Francis had been pope for less than six days when he was formally installed March 19, but he had already made a distinctive and overwhelmingly favorable impression on the world.
March 19, 2013
Pope begins ministry with biblical symbols, signs of universal ministry
Although attempts were made to simplify the ceremony, Pope Francis officially inaugurated his ministry as pope and bishop of Rome in a liturgy filled with biblical symbolism and signs of the universality of his mission.
March 19, 2013
Pope Francis begins papacy pledging to protect church, human dignity
Pope Francis formally began his ministry as bishop of Rome and as pope by pledging to protect the Catholic Church, the dignity of each person and the beauty of creation, just like St. Joseph protected Mary and Jesus.
March 18, 2013
Vatican releases papal coat of arms, motto by English doctor of church
The pope decided to keep his episcopal motto and coat of arms for his pontificate with just a few minor adjustments in line with a papal emblem. For example, the blazon adds the bishop's miter and the keys of St. Peter.
March 18, 2013
Archbishop says authenticity, simplicity mark his mentor, Pope Francis
For the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, "authenticity and simplicity" characterize the man who mentored him as a young bishop and who has just been elected Pope Francis.
March 18, 2013
Muslim leaders express hopes for improved relations with Catholics
Muslim leaders expressed hopes the new pope would help improve relations between Muslims and Catholics.
March 18, 2013
Pope meets with Argentine president, superior general of Jesuits
Pope Francis held an informal, private meeting and lunch with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner March 18.
March 18, 2013
Pope pledges renewed cooperation, Jewish leaders praise election
Pope Francis said he plans renewed cooperation to further Catholic-Jewish relations and hopes to contribute to a world where all people live in harmony with the "will of the creator."
March 17, 2013
Pope Francis greets cheering, flag-waving crowd at first Angelus
Four days after Pope Francis was elected, the crowd in St. Peter’s Square was ready to welcome him and hear what he had to say.
March 17, 2013
At first Angelus, Pope Francis says God never tires of forgiving
Citing a distinguished German theologian and an anonymous elderly penitent from Argentina, Pope Francis told an overflow crowd in St. Peter's Square never to despair of God's mercy to sinners.
March 15, 2013
Sts. Ignatius and Francis of Assisi, a bond highlighted by Pope Francis
Pope Francis is "a Jesuit's Jesuit" who understands the importance of St. Francis of Assisi in the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, said the Jesuits' secretary for the promotion of the faith.
March 15, 2013
Vatican dismisses claims against Pope Francis during dictatorship
The Vatican dismissed claims that Pope Francis played a direct role in the kidnappings of two Jesuit priests during Argentina's murderous military dictatorship and described them as part of a campaign by "left-wing anti-clerical elements to attack the church."
March 15, 2013
Pope's episcopal motto comes from homily by English doctor of church
The pope may completely change, slightly alter or keep his episcopal coat of arms and motto for his papal coat of arms. But the choice he made as a bishop still sheds some light on the person and ministry of the man who became pope March 13.
March 14, 2013
Pope Francis: Don't give in to pessimism, courageously share Gospel
Never give in to the devil's pessimism, discouragement and bitterness, Pope Francis told the College of Cardinals March 15.
March 14, 2013
Pope Francis: Without faith in Christ, church is just 'pitiful NGO'
The pope spoke at Mass March 14 in the Sistine Chapel, site of the conclave that had elected him the previous day. Pope Francis concelebrated the Mass with the 114 other cardinal electors who had taken part in the conclave.
March 14, 2013
Pope Francis: Choosing a Jesuit as a reformer -- on many levels
The church has turned to religious orders for popes at various times over the centuries, often when in need of a reformer, and such may have been the cardinals' thinking again when they elected Pope Francis.
March 14, 2013
Sequestered by conclave, cardinals missed births, rain, cellphones
While the cardinal electors were intensely praying and choosing the next pope, they were utterly unaware of the huge crowds waiting outside braving the rain and whether the smoke really worked, said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York.
March 14, 2013
Pope Francis starts first day with Marian prayer, bill paying
Pope Francis began his first full day as pope with an early morning act of Marian devotion -- and by paying the bill at the clergy hotel where he had stayed before entering the conclave that elected him.
March 13, 2013
U.S. cardinals describe Pope Francis as ideal choice for modern times
"He is the perfect choice for this moment in the church," said Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl.
March 13, 2013
Vatican spokesman releases pope's initial schedule, speaks of election
Speaking to reporters about an hour after Pope Francis had come out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and given his blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world), the spokesman said the new pope had already spoken by telephone with retired Pope Benedict XVI and planned to visit him "in the coming days."
March 13, 2013
Crowd in St. Peter's Square joyously welcomes Pope Francis I
Cheers of "Francesco! Francesco! Francesco!" resounded throughout the square as the new pope greeted the exuberant crowd in Italian and blessed them from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
March 13, 2013
Text of Pope Francis' remarks from balcony after his election
Here is the English translation of Pope Francis I's remarks delivered from the balcony after his election as pope.
March 13, 2013
Argentina's Cardinal Bergoglio elected pope, chooses Francis
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, the leader of a large urban archdiocese in Latin America, was elected the 266th pope and took the name Francis. He is the first pope in history to come from the Western Hemisphere and the first non-European to be elected in almost 1,300 years.
March 13, 2013
New pope likely to celebrate installation Mass March 19, spokesman says
The Mass for the installation of a new pope could be celebrated March 19, the solemnity of St. Joseph, patron of the universal church. The new pope also would likely recite the Angelus March 17 with visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square.
March 12, 2013
Cardinals 80 and older watch, pray -- and give interviews
While the 115 cardinal electors have been locked in the Sistine Chapel voting for a new pope, the elder members of the College of Cardinals have been sitting out the election.
March 12, 2013
Speculation, suspense: Italian media rife with papal predictions
Online betting and trending sites were not the only outlets posting their papal predictions. Italian newspapers are historically the boldest and most confident in their daily speculations and conclave scenarios.
March 12, 2013
Dark of night, chill of rain could not keep curious, faithful away
It was a cold and rainy night, but that cliche didn't stop tens of thousands of people from pouring in to St. Peter's Square to keep their eyes on a tiny chimney high atop a tiled roof.
March 12, 2013
Vatican's English briefer, Father Rosica, sees catechesis in his work
Basilian Father Thomas Rosica is a busy man these days. The Rochester, N.Y., native, founder and CEO of Salt and Light Television based in Toronto, has been assisting the English-speaking media at the Vatican Press office during the papal transition.
March 12, 2013
What happens when cardinals elect a pope
The 115 cardinals participating in the conclave will know the identity of the new pope before the rest of the world, but their advance knowledge is likely to last for well over an hour, and even more in the unlikely event that the candidate they choose is not in the Sistine Chapel with them.
March 12, 2013
In pre-conclave sermon, Cardinal Sodano calls for unity
Hours before the start of the conclave that will choose the next pope, the dean of the College of Cardinals celebrated the papacy as a source of unity among Catholics and of evangelization and charitable service to the world.
March 11, 2013
Cardinals end pre-conclave meetings, hear report on Vatican bank
During their last meeting before entering the conclave to elect a new pope, the world's cardinals heard a report on the Vatican bank and continuing efforts to comply with international standards to prevent money laundering and the funding of terrorism.
March 11, 2013
In digital age, Vatican sticks with smoke, bells to announce results
Though the Vatican has become increasingly savvy with more modern forms of communication, it's still sticking with more primitive methods -- swirling smoke and tolling bells -- to announce whether a new pope has been elected.
March 8, 2013
Universal priest, prophet and king: Next pope faces global challenges
In practically everything he does, the pope has special responsibility for preserving and building unity among members of the largest, most widespread and ethnically diverse organization on earth.
March 8, 2013
African, Asian pope would attract people to Gospel, says mission leader
"It would be great to see a black face again smiling from the Chair of St. Peter. It would be great to see a Chinese face," said the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.
March 8, 2013
Voting for new pope to begin March 12
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, announced the date for the start of the election, known as a conclave, in a message to reporters March 8.
March 8, 2013
Confessors called to help Catholics recognize truth of God's love
The head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican court that deals with the sacrament of penance and matters of conscience, said the sacrament is an integral part of evangelization because it is a proclamation of the good news of God's love.
March 7, 2013
Jesus put church in hands of erring humans, not angels, says cardinal
If Jesus had wanted a church free of scandal or problems, he would have put it in the hands of angels, not a humanity he loved, said Nigeria's newest cardinal elector.
March 7, 2013
Cardinals need time to talk before conclave, spokesman says
The conclave schedule leaves little time for discussing the needs of the church the new pope will have to face, which is why the entire College of Cardinals met March 4-7 without even discussing a possible date to begin the conclave, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman.
March 7, 2013
Ring of retired Pope Benedict no longer can be used as seal
When Pope Benedict XVI officially stepped down from office Feb. 28, his wardrobe changed -- right down to the ring on his finger.
March 6, 2013
Sistine Chapel goes from tourist magnet to polling place for pope
The Sistine Chapel's transformation from a world-famous tourist site to the prayer-filled space where cardinal electors will choose the next pope is under way.
March 6, 2013
Amid pre-conclave meetings, cardinals gather for prayer
Seated under Gian Lorenzo Bernini's statue "Chair of St. Peter," which celebrates the teaching authority of the pope, more than 100 cardinals gathered March 6 to pray as they prepared to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
March 6, 2013
Conclave is more a time of discernment than election, prelate says
The process of selecting a new pope is "ultimately not an election, ultimately it is a discernment," said Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington.
March 6, 2013
No conclave date, but cardinals develop 'profile' of new pope
Although by March 6 the world's cardinals had not set a date to begin the conclave to elect a new pope, they had begun discussing "the profile" required of the next pope to meet the needs of the church, the Vatican spokesman said.
March 6, 2013
Cardinals agree to media blackout of pre-conclave meetings
Citing unauthorized press reports on their preparatory meetings for the upcoming papal election, the College of Cardinals agreed to a media blackout similar to one observed before the previous conclave in 2005.
March 6, 2013
Every cardinal in his place: Internal ranking determines seating chart
Cardinals are divided into a three-tier internal hierarchy: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests and cardinal deacons. It's the seating order for the general congregations in the Vatican synod hall. It will be the order they line up in for the procession at the Mass for the election of a new pope.
March 5, 2013
Cardinals receive book of rites, prayers, hymns to guide their work
On the first day of their pre-conclave meetings, all of the cardinals were given a gold-embossed, green book of rites and prayers to accompany them as they enter the conclave, vote, elect a new pope and introduce him to the world.
March 5, 2013
Cardinals O'Malley, DiNardo: No rush to set date for conclave
"This is the most important decision that some of us will ever make, and we need to give it the time that's necessary," Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston told journalists March 5, after the second day of the pre-conclave meeting known as the general congregation.
March 5, 2013
Conclave 'opens up a new future,' Canada's Cardinal Ouellet says
Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet said the conclave "opens up a new future" for the church and is a responsibility the cardinals see as "their main task."
March 5, 2013
Cardinals discuss needs of church but don't set conclave date
After completing their third pre-conclave meeting, the College of Cardinals still had not announced a date for the conclave. Instead, they used the March 4 and 5 meetings to discuss needs of the church.
March 5, 2013
L.A. cardinal says he hopes to offer lessons learned from abuse crisis
As the world's cardinals meet before the conclave to discuss some of the challenges facing the church, U.S. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony said he hoped to offer them some of the lessons learned from the sex abuse crisis.
March 5, 2013
Cardinals send retired pope note of thanks, call for prayers
The College of Cardinals thanked retired Pope Benedict XVI for his "tireless work" and example of "generous pastoral concern."
March 5, 2013
Papal tailors ready no matter what size the new pope is
Even though a conclave to elect a new pope has not yet started, the papal tailors have the white cassock ready for the new pontiff when he appears less than an hour after his election on the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square.
March 4, 2013
Prayer and trembling: Cardinals recount experience of conclave
Less than half of the 117 cardinals eligible to vote for a successor to Pope Benedict XVI this year were participants in the 2005 conclave that elected him.
March 4, 2013
Famous last tweets before cardinals enter media blackout of conclave
While @Pontifex has fallen silent during the interregnum, a handful of social media-savvy cardinals are still tweeting while they can before a different kind of "ex-communication" sets in.
March 4, 2013
Cardinal George: Next pope must embrace zero tolerance for sex abuse
The next pope must be "very aware" of the need for vigilance in preventing clergy sex abuse and accept a policy of "zero tolerance" as the universal law of the church, said Chicago's Cardinal Francis E. George.
March 4, 2013
'Sede vacante' triggers changes in Mass texts, especially in Rome
The resignation of the pope, the bishop of Rome, triggered changes in the Mass texts -- particularly in the eucharistic prayers -- used by priests all over the world.
March 4, 2013
Cardinals begin pre-conclave meetings at Vatican
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the cardinals did not set a date for the conclave to begin and were unlikely to set a date until the 115 cardinal-electors expected were all present and until the cardinals felt confident they knew how much time they wanted for discussions beforehand.
March 4, 2013
Cardinal Mahony says Vatican told him to attend conclave
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony expressed "amazement" at calls that he withdraw from the upcoming papal conclave because of his record on clergy sex abuse and said the Vatican, acting through its ambassador to the United States, had instructed him to take part in the election of the next pope.
March 1, 2013
Cardinals' meetings begin with business, then look toward choosing pope
The world's cardinals were to begin meetings at the Vatican March 4, and while onlookers are focused on who may be the next pope, the cardinals have business to deal with.
March 1, 2013
Between popes, a time of speculation and suspense
The period immediately following a pontificate is one of excited speculation, more or less loose, about the identity of the next pope.
March 1, 2013
Cardinals' Catch-22: eager for conclave, but need time to choose well
"There might be a need for a long delay" as the cardinals try to gauge how much they do or don't know enough about each other, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier told Catholic News Service March 1, the first day of the "sede vacante."
March 1, 2013
Pope Benedict begins emeritus life; cardinals begin 'sede vacante' jobs
After Pope Benedict XVI officially became pope emeritus, he ate dinner, watched the television news and strolled through rooms of the papal villa. Back at the Vatican, a series of tasks was performed at the beginning of "sede vacante," the period when there is no pope.
Feb. 28, 2013
Three US cardinals discuss papal candidates, process of choosing pope
After Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican and began the last hours of his papacy, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago told reporters he already was considering the qualities of certain cardinals and what kinds of pope they would make.
Feb. 28, 2013
Pope says he's going from humble servant to simple pilgrim
Pope Benedict XVI, who began his papacy describing himself as a "humble servant in the Lord's vineyard," described his retirement as a time of being a "simple pilgrim, who begins the last stage of his pilgrimage on this earth."
Feb. 28, 2013
In farewell to cardinals, Pope Benedict pledges obedience to next pope
Pope Benedict XVI briefly addressed the College of Cardinals on his last day as pontiff, calling for unity and harmony among the men who will choose his successor and pledging his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to the next pope.
Pope Benedict's last trip is 15-minute helicopter ride
Pope Benedict XVI's final trip as pope was a 15-minute helicopter ride from the Vatican to the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo.
Feb. 28, 2013
Shoes, signs, stamps, serenades, field art: creative tributes to pope
Catholics in Rome and all over the world found myriad ways to pay homage to Pope Benedict XVI before his resignation Feb. 28.
Feb. 27, 2013
Today's cardinal-electors slightly older than group in 2005 conclave
The group of cardinals preparing to enter a conclave to elect a new pope is slightly older -- by four months -- than the group that elected 78-year-old Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2005.
Feb. 27, 2013
Australian cardinal says age, nationality will count in conclave
Sydney Cardinal George Pell, 71, said age, nationality and pastoral experience will be among the factors the cardinals consider when voting for a new pope.
Feb. 27, 2013
Pope delivers personal, emotional farewell address at audience
On his last full day as pope, Pope Benedict XVI delivered an unusually personal and emotional farewell address, thanking the faithful around the world for their support and assuring them that he would remain in their service even in retirement.
Feb. 27, 2013
Faithful throw big farewell at pope's last general audience
The last general audience in St. Peter's Square turned into a farewell party with balloons, flowers, flags, posters, cheers, standing ovations and a touching thank-you speech from Pope Benedict XVI.
Feb. 27, 2013
Flurry of personnel appointments mark last days of pontificate
In the 18 days between announcing his resignation and leaving office, Pope Benedict XVI named 19 new bishops and accepted the resignations of seven others.
Feb. 26, 2013
New York's Cardinal Dolan: Happy warrior of the new evangelization
Popes are elected by members of the College of Cardinals, not by the general Catholic population and certainly not by the media. Yet Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan's presence on practically every journalist's list of potential next popes bespeaks a real and important influence among his peers.
Feb. 26, 2013
Conclave start date might not be known until after March 4
It is possible the world's cardinals will not begin meeting at the Vatican until March 4, and they cannot set a start date for the conclave until they have met, the Vatican spokesman said.
Feb. 26, 2013
Vatican will soon issue special stamps, coins marking 'sede vacante'
The Vatican will be issuing special-edition stamps and minting special coins marking the upcoming "sede vacante," the period when the see of Rome is vacant before the election of a new pope.
Feb. 26, 2013
While @Pontifex hibernates during interregnum, @TerzaLoggia set to fly
The pope's @Pontifex Twitter fans will get two more tweets before the account goes into "hibernation" during the "sede vacante" period starting when Pope Benedict XVI steps down.
Feb. 26, 2013
Pope Benedict to be 'pope emeritus' or 'Roman pontiff emeritus'
Pope Benedict XVI will continue to be known as Pope Benedict and addressed as "His Holiness," but after his resignation, he will add the title "emeritus" in one of two acceptable forms, either "pope emeritus" or "Roman pontiff emeritus.”
Feb. 25, 2013
Cardinal Wuerl: Confronting secularism a priority for next pope
The man cardinals choose as the next pope must be someone with the requisite energy and mastery of modern communications media to promote a revival of the faith in increasingly secular societies around the world, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington.
Feb. 25, 2013
Young, new Philippine cardinal has extensive international ties
At 55, Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila, Philippines, is one of the youngest and newest members of the College of Cardinals, but he is also one of the cardinals most frequently mentioned as a possible pope.
Feb. 25, 2013
Timeline of recent papal transitions
The last few popes have been elected and installed within a fairly short period of time after the deaths of their predecessors.
Feb. 25, 2013
Vatican denounces press reports on papal transition
A communique from the Secretariat of State called "deplorable" the "widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories" intended to exert "pressures on the election of the pope."
Feb. 25, 2013
Changing rules, pope allows cardinals to move up conclave date
In his last week as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules for conclaves, including a clause that allows the College of Cardinals to move up the date for the beginning of the conclave to elect his successor.
Feb. 25, 2013
Pope accepts cardinal's resignation; Scot to stay away from conclave
Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, 74, announced he would not participate in the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI's successor because he did not want media attention focused on him instead of the election of a new pope.
Feb. 22, 2013
Vatican official: German bishops' rule on 'Plan B' for rape acceptable
The Catholic Church has long accepted the possibility of preventing ovulation in a woman who has been raped, but withdraws that option if there is a possibility that ovulation may have already occurred, said the president of Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life.
Feb. 22, 2013
Papal biographer: Fixing Vatican bureaucracy is a top job for next pope
Threats to religious freedom around the world, the human costs of globalization, media transformed by the revolution in information technology are some of the challenges for the next pope. But he might also have an urgent task at home: reforming the Roman Curia.
Feb. 22, 2013
Pope Benedict changes rituals for new pope's inauguration
Pope Benedict XVI has ordered several changes to the Masses and liturgies that will mark the inauguration of the next pope's pontificate.
Feb. 21, 2013
Canonist explains 'rigid, highly formal' rules for electing pope
The voting by cardinals to elect the next pope takes place behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, following a highly detailed procedure that underwent major revisions by Blessed John Paul II and a small, but very significant change, by Pope Benedict XVI.
Feb. 21, 2013
Indonesian cardinal says poor eyesight will keep him from conclave
At least one of the 117 cardinals eligible to elect a new pope will not come to Rome because of illness.
Feb. 21, 2013
Age matters: Popes elected as young as 24, as old as 81
Of the 102 popes whose exact age at election is known, Pope Benedict was one of 17 churchmen elected bishop of Rome while between the ages of 71 and 80.
Feb. 21, 2013
As pope, Benedict worked to promote understanding of Vatican II
On Feb. 14, in one of the last public appearances of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the clergy of Rome about his experiences at the Second Vatican Council, which he had attended as an expert consultant half a century before.
Feb. 20, 2013
What the church needs now: Synod gives clues to cardinals' priorities
Before the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to begin voting for a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, they will hold meetings in the Vatican synod hall to discuss the current needs of the church. Many of them sat in the same room for three weeks in October discussing the same thing, so they won't be starting from scratch.
Feb. 20, 2013
Pope considering last-minute changes to conclave rules, Vatican says
Pope Benedict XVI is considering making some changes to the conclave rules and rituals before he leaves office Feb. 28, the Vatican spokesman confirmed.
Feb. 20, 2013
Conclaves: Vatican Library official shares interesting, strange facts
For instance: During World War II, Pope Pius XII, like several of his predecessors who were popes in times of war, left a document informing the College of Cardinals that if he were taken prisoner, he was no longer to be considered the pope, so the cardinals were to hold a conclave and elect a new pontiff.
Feb. 20, 2013
Between popes: Vatican business continues as usual – almost
When Pope Benedict XVI officially leaves office at 8 p.m. Feb. 28, most of the top-level Vatican officials lose their jobs, but that does not mean the majority of Vatican employees get a vacation.
Feb. 19, 2013
Vatican guesthouse offers cardinals privacy, relaxed comfort
When they are not in the Sistine Chapel, seated under Michelangelo's frescoes to vote for the next pope, the cardinal-electors will stay in a modern guesthouse that offers them both privacy and space to gather for relaxed conversation.
Feb. 19, 2013
Pope Benedict saw Jews, Muslims as allies in defending belief in God
Though Pope Benedict XVI saw Jews and Muslims as natural allies, in the almost eight years of his pontificate his relations with the Jewish and Muslim communities were marked by alternating tensions and new initiatives.
Feb. 19, 2013
History may hold clues in divining impact of resignation, expert says
The halls of history might hold some clues as to what kind of impact Pope Benedict XVI's resignation will have on the church and how to navigate a smooth transition, said a U.S. scholar.
Feb. 18, 2013
Italian cardinal holds center stage by leading Lenten retreat for pope
The Italian cardinal leading Pope Benedict XVI's Lenten retreat was tweeting and podcasting his reflections, signaling that detachment from the outside world doesn't have to mean a total media blackout.
Feb. 18, 2013
Pope asks cardinal to lead financially troubled religious order
Pope Benedict XVI has entrusted the leadership of the financially troubled Sons of the Immaculate Conception to Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
Feb. 18, 2013
Twelve to watch as cardinals gather in Rome
Because of their experience and the esteem they enjoy among their peers, certain cardinals are likely to serve as trusted advisers to the rest of their brother cardinals before and during the conclave.
Feb. 17, 2013
Pope asks continued prayers in these 'unusual' days for church
Calling this an unusual time for him and for the church -- but not specifically mentioning his resignation -- Pope Benedict XVI thanked people for their affection and asked them to continue their prayers.
Feb. 15, 2013
Pope Benedict's resignation and the mystery of the missing encyclical
Pope Benedict XVI's historic decision to resign at the end of February has astonished and perplexed the world in many ways, not least because of what might be called the mystery of the missing encyclical.
Feb. 15, 2013
Conclave to silence at least nine tweeting cardinals
Parrots may squawk in the Vatican Gardens during a conclave, but the cardinals are not allowed to tweet.
Feb. 15, 2013
Pope's talk inspires renewed enthusiasm for Vatican II, evangelization
Pope Benedict XVI's walk down memory lane, recalling his participation in the Second Vatican Council, was an inspiration, reviving renewed zeal for evangelization in this Year of Faith, a number of priests said.
Feb. 15, 2013
Shipyard chairman, financial consultant appointed head of Vatican bank
In one of his last efforts to clean up the image of the Vatican bank, Pope Benedict XVI approved the hiring of the chairman of a German shipyard as the bank's new president.
Feb. 14, 2013
Precedent and sacrifice: Papal decision offers options for future
For a Catholic so aware of the importance of tradition, even traditions with a small "t," Pope Benedict XVI had to know he was setting a precedent by resigning.
Feb. 14, 2013
In talk to priests, pope recalls experiences as Vatican II consultant
Pope Benedict XVI, who has dedicated much of his pontificate to shaping the church's understanding of the Second Vatican Council, devoted one of his last public addresses to the subject, recalling his experiences as an expert consultant at Vatican II, praising some of its major documents and lamenting widespread distortions of its teachings.
Feb. 14, 2013
Don't leave home without them: Credit cards welcome again at Vatican
After more than six weeks of not being able to accept credit- and debit-card payments in the Vatican Museums and shops, the Vatican announced Feb. 13 that it had begun accepting plastic again.
Feb. 14, 2013
Papal secretary moving with pope, other announcements from Vatican
By being the first pope to resign in almost 600 years, Pope Benedict opened a whole box of questions that could not be answered immediately and kept the papal spokesman busy responding to media inquiries and making his own.
Feb. 13, 2013
On Ash Wednesday, pope preaches on humility, Christian unity
Celebrating what was expected to be the last public liturgy of his pontificate two weeks before his resignation, Pope Benedict XVI preached on the virtues of humility and Christian unity and heard his highest-ranking aide pay tribute to his service to the church.
Feb. 13, 2013
Pope Benedict adds few farewells to his original February schedule
With the exception of a special farewell meeting with members of the College of Cardinals Feb. 28 and separate meetings with the prime minister and president of Italy, the Vatican confirmed Pope Benedict XVI's original schedule for late February.
Feb. 13, 2013
Sadness, celebration mark pope's first public event since announcement
Compared to his other public events, this time the chants and cheers had more punch; loud, long supportive applause erupted more often, and the singing had the air of adieu.
Feb. 13, 2013
Pope Benedict thanks faithful, asks them to pray for next pope
At his first public appearance since he announced that he would resign at the end of February, Pope Benedict XVI thanked the faithful for their love and prayers and asked them to pray for his successor.
Feb. 12, 2013
Cardinal Arinze: Pope's resignation was a 'surprise, like thunder'
Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign the papacy was a "surprise, like thunder that gives no notice that it's coming," said one of the cardinals who was in the room when the pope announced his decision.
Feb. 12, 2013
Benedict will be prayerful presence in next papacy, spokesman says
Even though Pope Benedict XVI will spend his retirement near Rome and then inside Vatican City, he will not play any role in the upcoming election for a new pope, and he will not interfere with the responsibilities and decision-making activities of the new pontiff, the Vatican spokesman said.
Feb. 12, 2013
Pope to live in Vatican monastery established by Blessed John Paul
The Vatican monastery where Pope Benedict XVI intends to live began its life as the Vatican gardener's house, but was established as a cloistered convent by Blessed John Paul II in 1994.
Feb. 11, 2013
In hindsight, Pope Benedict's resignation seems almost predictable
As much as he astonished the world when he announced his resignation Feb. 11, Pope Benedict XVI's decision seems almost predictable in hindsight. Given his previous statements on the subject and his recent signs of aging, one might say that people should have seen it coming.
Feb. 11, 2013
List of potential cardinal-electors for a papal conclave
Here is a list of cardinal-electors, from oldest to youngest, eligible to vote for a pope in a conclave. Cardinal Walter Kasper turns 80 March 5; depending on the date of the conclave, he might be over 80, and thus too old to vote.
Feb. 11, 2013
List of potential cardinal-electors for a papal conclave
Here is a list of cardinal-electors, from oldest to youngest, eligible to vote for a pope in a conclave. Cardinal Walter Kasper turns 80 March 5; depending on the date of the conclave, he might be over 80, and thus too old to vote.
Feb. 11, 2013
Pope Benedict's resignation will set in motion period of transition
While the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is a first for the church in centuries, it also leads to a complicated period of transition that ends in the election of a new pope.
Feb. 11, 2013
Don't worry about being imperfect when called to vocation, pope says
Men and women called to a religious vocation should not worry about being imperfect but should trust in God to transform their lives, said Pope Benedict XVI.
Feb. 11, 2013
Pope Benedict shows signs of aging, but Vatican reports no illness
From the moment he was elected pope at the age of 78 in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has kept a schedule that appeared light compared to that of Blessed John Paul II, but busy for a man who had wanted to retire to study, write and pray when he turned 75.
Feb. 11, 2013
14 cardinals from Canada, US eligible to vote in conclave
Here is a list of the 14 cardinals from Canada and the United States who are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
Feb. 11, 2013
Citing health reasons, Pope Benedict announces he will resign
Saying he no longer has the strength to exercise ministry over the universal church, Pope Benedict XVI announced Feb. 11 that he would be resigning at the end of the month.
Feb. 8, 2013
Theologian: American youth a ravaged but promising mission field
As discouraging a picture as Pia de Solenni paints of today’s American socio-cultural landscape, she insists that all this represents a momentous opportunity for Catholic evangelization.
Feb. 8, 2013
Vatican official says his defense of gays' rights was misunderstood
Remarks by the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family Feb. 4 were reported around the world under headlines such as "Vatican recognizes the rights of gay couples."
Feb. 7, 2013
Respond to education, labor crises for youth with real help, pope says
Young people's essential needs, including decent work and an education, demand a serious, effective response from both the church and the wider community, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Feb. 7, 2013
Positive feedback: Vatican invites rock band to explain youth culture
When the head of the Pontifical Council for Culture said he wanted to listen to what today's young people had to say, he wasn't afraid to hear it belted out at 100 decibels.
Feb. 6, 2013
Creation story isn't science but reveals God's love, pope says
The first chapter of Genesis reveals the fundamental truth about reality: that the world is not the result of chaos, but is born of and continually supported by God's love, the pope said Feb. 6 at his weekly general audience.
Feb. 5, 2013
Vatican official says ending clerical sexual abuse is long-term effort
The Catholic Church's efforts to prevent clerical sexual abuse and protect children around the world will be "a long-term effort," said Father Robert W. Oliver, a Boston priest who began work Feb. 1 as the promoter of justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.
Feb. 5, 2013
Defend traditional family, rights of others, archbishop says
While the Catholic Church opposes legal sanctions against homosexuality and favors legal protections for unmarried people living together, it must defend traditional marriage for the good of society, said the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Feb. 5, 2013
Zubin Mehta conducts for the pope
The conductor Zubin Mehta performed with an Italian orchestra at the Vatican Feb. 4, in a concert honoring Pope Benedict XVI and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
Feb. 4, 2013
Ignore 'prophets of doom' predicting end of religious life, pope says
Pope Benedict XVI asked nuns, brothers and priests not to listen to the "prophets of doom" who say that consecrated life has no future or that it has no meaning in today's world.
Feb. 4, 2013
Chaldean Catholic bishops elect Kirkuk archbishop as new patriarch (updated)
The new head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, told his fellow Chaldean bishops and Vatican officials, "We want to follow the example of our martyrs who gave their lives for Christ."
Feb. 4, 2013
Pope calls for protection of life, greater investment in families
As the Italian Catholic Church marked Day for Life Feb. 3, the pope used his Sunday Angelus address to echo the Italian bishops' call "to invest in life and the family, also as an effective response" to the current economic crisis.
Feb. 1, 2013
Chaldean Catholic bishops elect Kirkuk archbishop as new patriarch
The bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church elected Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk to be the new patriarch of the Iraq-based church, and Pope Benedict XVI formally welcomed the election of the new patriarch.
Feb. 1, 2013
Faith is genuine only if coupled with charity for others, pope says
Faith and charity can never be separated nor opposed to each other, just as faith by itself isn't genuine without charity, Pope Benedict XVI said in his annual message for Lent.
Jan. 31, 2013
Why not women priests? The papal theologian explains
Despite recent disciplinary actions against advocates of women’s ordination, some Catholics persist in asking why, as traditional distinctions between the sexes break down in many areas of society, the Catholic clergy must remain an exclusively male vocation, and what this suggests about the church's understanding of women's worth and dignity.
Jan. 31, 2013
Media blitz can help youths find Gospel in digital deluge, speaker says
The best way the church can be heard and seen amid the deluge of the information age is to launch a media blitz of simple answers to life's deepest questions, a young Catholic journalist told a Vatican news conference.
Jan. 31, 2013
New cardinals get their assignments to Roman Curia
Two months after receiving their red hats, the six newest members of the College of Cardinals have received their assignments as members of Vatican congregations, councils and offices -- one of the clearest ways they help Pope Benedict XVI govern the universal church.
Jan. 30, 2013
Calling God 'father' is statement of trust in his love, pope says
When the Christian creed refers to God as "father," it is affirming a trust that the God who created the universe loves each individual and will never abandon anyone, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Jan. 29, 2013
Tweets and retweets: Study analyzes @Pontifex traffic
In his first month on Twitter, Pope Benedict XVI sent two dozen mini-messages in nine languages, generating more than 270,000 comments and responses from other Twitter users, according to a study conducted by an Italian Jesuit magazine and an Italian new-media consulting firm.
Jan. 29, 2013
Pope to lead full slate of Holy Week, Easter liturgies
Publishing the pope's schedule Jan. 29, the Vatican said his Holy Week activities will begin with a procession and Mass in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, March 24.
Jan. 28, 2013
Lack of faith can hurt marriage, may affect validity, pope says
A lack of faith in God can damage marriage, even to the point of affecting its validity, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Jan. 28, 2013
The sick, their caregivers can gain indulgences on World Day of Sick
The sick, their caregivers and any Catholic who prays for or lovingly assists someone who is ill can gain an indulgence with prayers and service on or around the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which the Catholic Church marks as World Day of the Sick.
Jan. 28, 2013
Pope marks Holocaust Remembrance Day, calls for end to hatred
Pope Benedict XVI said the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day calls humanity to work to overcome all forms of hatred and racism and to respect the dignity of each human person.
Jan. 25, 2013
Christian cooperation key to proclaiming the Gospel, pope says
Christians must work together to offer the faith they share to a world that seems to find it more and more difficult to believe, Pope Benedict XVI told Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant leaders at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Jan. 25, 2013
Pope reassigns responsibility for seminaries, religious instruction
In an administrative move reaffirming his efforts to promote a Catholic revival in the West and greater adherence to traditional church teaching, Pope Benedict XVI has reassigned responsibility among Vatican offices for the religious education of laypeople and future priests
Jan. 25, 2013
Let's Go! Vatican: New guidebook gives tourist tips, scholarly details
The official Vatican City travel guide was released, aimed at making life easier for pilgrims and tourists, and offering accurate and exhaustive details for scholars and historians.
Jan. 25, 2013
Jesuit says confusion over Vatican II is normal, even 50 years later
Jesuit Father Ladislas Orsy told an audience in Rome Jan. 24 that while every ecumenical council in church history led to debate -- and sometimes even schism -- it always has taken more than 50 years for a council's teachings and reforms to take root in the Christian community.
Jan. 24, 2013
Cardinal Stafford: 40 years after Roe, 'I weep for the United States'
Forty years of legalized abortion have profoundly demoralized American society, not only weakening respect for human life but undermining marriage, parenthood and individuals' sense of duty to others, said Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, a former archbishop of Denver and former head of two Vatican offices.
Jan. 24, 2013
Retired Polish primate, Cardinal Glemp, dies at 83
Retired Cardinal Jozef Glemp of Warsaw, who served as primate of the Catholic Church in Poland during the final years of communism and during the restoration of democracy, died Jan. 23 at the age of 83.
Jan. 24, 2013
Social networks need more logic, love and less ranting, rage, pope says
Social media need to promote more logic, kindness and Christian witness than bluster, star-status and division, Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for World Communications
Jan. 23, 2013
Spokesman says church condemns ivory hunters' slaughter of elephants
The Catholic Church has never encouraged anyone to use ivory for religious devotional objects and, in fact, teaches that animals must be treated with respect, the Vatican spokesman said in a letter to "friends of the elephants."
Jan. 23, 2013
Belief in God leads to values that can be counter-cultural, pope says
To believe in God means allowing his commandments to guide the concrete choices one makes every day, even when the values reflected in the choices are counter-cultural, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Jan. 22, 2013
Pope: 'No' to gender philosophy, 'yes' to supporting human dignity
The church must promote the beauty of marriage between a man and a woman and warn against ideologies opposed to human nature, including philosophies of gender that portray male and female as cultural inventions, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Jan. 22, 2013
Archbishop Di Noia urges SSPX to take new attitude in unity talks
The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X will have a future only if it returns to full communion with the Vatican and stops publicly criticizing the teaching of the pope, said the Vatican official responsible for relations with traditionalist Catholics.
Jan. 22, 2013
Pope says Christian divisions 'disfigure' the church
"One of the most serious faults that disfigures the face of the church," the pope said, is the sin "against her visible unity, particularly the historical divisions that have separated Christians and still have not been overcome completely."
Jan. 22, 2013
Meeting between pope, Vietnam's Communist Party head boosts relations
Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Vietnam were strengthened further when Pope Benedict XVI met Nguyen Phu Trong, marking the first time a pope had met with the general secretary of the nation's Communist Party.
Jan. 18, 2013
Vatican mummy health check: It's never too late for an endoscopy
Mummies in the Vatican Museums received "more medical attention now than when they were alive."
Jan. 17, 2013
US monsignor joins canons of St. Peter's Basilica, a ministry of prayer
Although his curriculum vitae includes parish assignments, seminary positions and years devoted to promoting religious education throughout the United States, Msgr. Francis D. Kelly said, "All my life I've been a closet monk."
Jan. 17, 2013
Justice, kindness, humility must mark ecumenical journey, pope says
Like the individual path to holiness, the ecumenical path to Christian unity requires justice, kindness and humility, Pope Benedict XVI told members of a pilgrimage from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Jan. 16, 2013
Vatican to enlist Christian all-stars to help scandal-ridden sports
In an effort to flex its moral muscle in the professional sports arena, the Vatican has invited top-tier Christian athletes Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin to help bring ethical values back to a scandal-ridden world of sports.
Jan. 16, 2013
Vatican official: Armstrong's misdeeds reflect 'rotten' cycling world
U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong's admission to doping is just the tip of the iceberg, since high-stakes commercial interests pressure almost every professional cyclist into the illegal practice, said a Vatican official.
Jan. 16, 2013
Everyone, even atheists, has human desire to know who God is, pope says
It is especially important people don't just seek God when they need him but make room for him throughout their busy lives, Pope Benedict XVI said during his weekly general audience Jan. 16.
Jan. 16, 2013
Vatican laments European Court denial of conscientious objection right
While applauding the European Court of Human Rights' recognition of the right of a British airline employee to wear a cross on her uniform, the Vatican lamented the court's denial of the full right of conscientious objection in other cases claiming religious discrimination in the United Kingdom.
Jan. 15, 2013
Church supports World Leprosy Day to raise awareness, stop stigma
Pope Benedict XVI and the president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry traditionally both issue messages for World Leprosy Day, which is Jan. 27 this year.
Jan. 14, 2013
Holy Crime Fighters: Prayer handy for Vatican beat, says police chief
Spirit and prayer come in handy for the "delicate" and unique mission of helping protect the pope and maintain law and order on the Vatican's perimeter, said the head of an Italian police force's special unit.
Jan. 11, 2013
When the pope administers the sacraments
For most Catholics, receiving any sacrament from the pope would be a special event, yet such opportunities are necessarily rare. On what occasions does the pope personally administer the sacraments and to whom?
Jan. 11, 2013
Vatican doctrinal chief says politics that ignore God are bound to fail
"The politics we have today in Europe and North America without ethical foundations, without a reference to God, cannot resolve our problems, even those of the market and money," said Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Jan. 10, 2013
Pope names Lebanon trip coordinator to head Canada's Maronite Catholics
Pope Benedict XVI named the priest in charge of coordinating his papal visit to Lebanon to head the Maronite Catholic community in Canada.
Jan. 9, 2013
Christmas is time for awe, giving oneself to others, pope says
Since everyone experiences joy at receiving a gift that comes from the heart, Christians should be in absolute awe at Christmastime when they remember God's gift of himself, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Jan. 8, 2013
Be like good Samaritan, help those in need, pope says in message
Thanking those who care for the sick and elderly, the pope underlined the church's fundamental role in "lovingly and generously accepting every human being, especially those who are weak and sick."
Jan. 8, 2013
Calling Jews 'enemies' is 'unacceptable,' Vatican spokesman says
The Catholic Church remains committed to deepening its relations with Jews and finds it "absolutely unacceptable" to consider the Jewish people as enemies, the Vatican spokesman said.
Jan. 7, 2013
Bishops must stand firm in truth to lead people to Christ, pope says
Meeting the approval of the wider public "is not the criterion to which we submit. Our criterion is the Lord himself," the pope said Jan. 6 as he celebrated the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord with a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
Jan. 7, 2013
Peace is impossible without openness to God, pope tells diplomats
Deploring war, civil conflict and poverty around the world, Pope Benedict XVI told foreign ambassadors assembled at the Vatican that peace-building requires charity, religious liberty, a proper understanding of human rights and openness to divine love.
Jan. 7, 2013
Pope Benedict completes 'ad limina' visits with world's bishops -- almost
The Vatican announced that after more than seven years in office, Pope Benedict XVI had hosted the formal visits of bishops from every country in the world and would begin the cycle all over again by meeting the heads of Italy's 227 dioceses in 2013.
Jan. 4, 2013
Vatican says 2.3 million people joined pope for Vatican events in 2012
More than 2.3 million pilgrims and visitors joined Pope Benedict XVI for an audience, liturgy or prayer at the Vatican or Castel Gandolfo in 2012, the Vatican said.
Jan. 4, 2013
Vatican suspends acceptance of credit cards amid tension with regulator
Vatican City State vendors, including the Vatican Museums and supermarket, stopped accepting credit- and debit-card payments Jan. 1, citing technical difficulties amid unofficial reports of regulatory concerns by Italian financial authorities.
Jan. 3, 2013
Ten things you should know about new head of papal household
Pope Benedict XVI will ordain his longtime secretary an archbishop Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
Jan. 3, 2013
Vatican official thanks mothers of priests, asks for their prayers
The mothers of priests and seminarians deserve the thanks of the whole church for raising their sons in the faith and supporting them in their vocations, said Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy.
Jan. 2, 2013
Silence and song: Youths make ecumenical New Year's pilgrimage to Rome
Even with 45,000 people -- mostly young adults -- gathered in St. Peter's Square, one could hear the sound of splashing water from the square's two decorative fountains.
Jan. 2, 2013
Despite evil, human beings are hard-wired for peace, pope says
Welcoming in the new year, Pope Benedict XVI said that despite the injustice and violence in the world, every human being yearns for and is made for peace.
Jan. 2, 2013
Christmas is reminder of God's great power, pope says at audience
Continuing his Christmas reflections at his weekly general audience Jan. 2, the pope explained why Catholics traditionally bow their heads when, in reciting the creed, they come to the words, "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man."
Dec. 28, 2012
Agenda for a year of faith: looking ahead at Pope Benedict's 2013
Here are 10 papal events to watch for in the news during the coming year.
Dec. 28, 2012
Bishops described Christmas in besieged Aleppo, Syria
A bishop in Syria said most Christians were able to enjoy a bit of "holy Christian joy" at Christmas.
Dec. 27, 2012
New ventilation system to suck dirt, dust off Sistine Chapel visitors
In an effort to protect Michelangelo's famed frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums will be installing a new ventilation system.
Dec. 26, 2012
Pope names Boston priest to be Vatican's abuse investigator
Pope Benedict XVI has named a canon lawyer from the Archdiocese of Boston to be the new promoter of justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position that includes monitoring and investigating cases of priests accused of sex abuse.
Dec. 26, 2012
Make room for God, pray for peace, pope says in Christmas services
Pope Benedict XVI urged people to think seriously about their faith at Christmas, and he urged them to recognize the connection between believing in God and helping others through acts of charity and by praying and working for peace.
Dec. 21, 2012
Pope says false ideas of human nature threaten basis of the family
Pope Benedict XVI said the family in Western society is undergoing a "crisis that threatens it to its foundations," owing to false ideas of human nature that equate freedom with selfishness and present God-given sexual identities as a matter of individual choice to the profound detriment of humanity dignity..
Dec. 21, 2012
Preacher tells pope joy is key to new evangelization
Even when the Catholic Church acknowledges its struggles and the sinfulness of some of its members, it must hold on to the joy that flows from God's love and salvation in Christ, said the preacher of the papal household.
Dec. 20, 2012
Pope writes on Christmas for major financial newspaper
In the Vatican's latest move to expand its use of media, an article on the meaning of Christmas by Pope Benedict XVI appeared Dec. 20 in Britain's Financial Times newspaper.
Dec. 20, 2012
Elite Vatican squad scales high spots to keep basilica spic and span
Twice a year, typically before Christmas and Easter, a select team of Vatican workers breaks out its polyester dusters, vacuum cleaner and bronze polishing fluid to clean Gian Lorenzo Bernini's 100-foot-high, 63-ton masterpiece.
Dec. 20, 2012
Pope advances sainthood causes of Pope Paul VI, more than 850 others
Pope Benedict XVI advanced the sainthood cause of Pope Paul VI by recognizing the Italian pope as having lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way.
Dec. 19, 2012
Strength of faith comes from trusting God, pope says at audience
Mary's role in the birth and life of Jesus shows all Christians that the strength of faith lies in trusting God, even when his will is mysterious and life seems dark, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Dec. 17, 2012
Solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires talks, pope says
Pope Benedict XVI and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed the need to restart talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
Dec. 17, 2012
Pope expresses grief over Newtown shooting, calls for acts of peace
Pope Benedict XVI said he was "deeply saddened" by the Dec. 14 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.
Dec. 13, 2012
In 2012, pope called for liberty, identity, evangelization
Ten highlights of the pope's year.
Dec. 13, 2012
The good, bad, ugly: Church can't shy away from Twitter's Wild West
While many have welcomed the pope's foray into the virtual world, his @Pontifex handles and "reply-able" posts have also meant that rude and crude comments have come with the mix.
Dec. 12, 2012
Vatican newspaper: World will end, but not because of Mayan calendar
A papal astronomer gave his reassurances that the world will not end Dec. 21, 2012.
Dec. 12, 2012
Pope launches Twitter account, tweets to more than 1 million followers
"Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. ...”
Dec. 11, 2012
Use 'weapons' of love, prayer in cultural war, participants say
In the battle to defeat the culture of death and preserve Christian values throughout the Americas, Christians need to adopt the "unconventional weapons" of Our Lady of Guadalupe: love and prayer, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore told participants at a Vatican congress.
Dec. 11, 2012
Church must highlight women's vital role in ministry, says US speaker
To counteract the widespread perception that women don't have a vital role in the church, Catholics need to learn more about the historical importance of women in ministry and retell those stories to younger generations, said a prominent U.S. Catholic speaker.
Dec. 10, 2012
Pope: Americas need renewed missionary spirit, well-catechized laity
The universal church needs Catholics in the Americas who are joyful missionaries, well-catechized and faithful to the teachings of the church, Pope Benedict XVI said at the opening of an international congress marking the 15th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops for America.
Dec. 10, 2012
Gospel is good news of freedom from sin, selfishness, death, pope says
In the immaculate conception of Mary, Christians recognize the truth that the Gospel is the good news of freedom from sin, selfishness and death, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Dec. 7, 2012
Being 'neutral' toward religion hurts religious freedom, says cardinal
Under the guise of "objectivity" and respecting diversity, many governments are really upholding and giving legitimacy to a culture that is devoid of God, said Cardinal Angelo Scola.
Dec. 7, 2012
Salvation must be proclaimed, faith explained, papal preacher says
Catholic have great resources and experience in helping the baptized learn about and live their faith, but they can learn some things from other Christians, said the preacher of the papal household.
Dec. 6, 2012
New charity rules don't forbid state funding, Vatican official says
New rules issued by Pope Benedict XVI for the governance of Catholic charities will not prevent such charities from accepting government funding, so long as the funding does not entail conditions that conflict with church teaching, said the second-highest official of the Vatican office in charge of applying the new legislation.
Dec. 6, 2012
Vatican Nativity scene sets Holy Family in rock-hewn grottos of Matera
Christmas in St. Peter's Square this year has a particularly southern Italian flavor with a towering tree from the Molise region and a Nativity scene donated by the Basilicata region.
Dec. 6, 2012
Palestinian question key to Mideast peace, say Catholic leaders
At the end of a three-day meeting in Lebanon, the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East said peace in the region will be impossible without a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Dec. 5, 2012
Advent is time to renew faith, bring God's love to others, pope says
Advent's liturgical preparation for Christmas calls Christians to renew their faith in the reality of God's great love and to make a commitment to bringing his love to the world today, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Dec. 4, 2012
Papal events, Vatican webcam feeds streamed live with new 'Pope App'
The Vatican is offering a new app that provides live streaming of papal events and video feeds from the Vatican's six webcams. "The Pope App" also will send out alerts and links to top stories coming out of the Vatican's news outlets.
Dec. 3, 2012
Pope calls for world authority as 'moral force'
The world authority envisioned by two popes as a way to ensure global peace and justice would not be a superpower, but primarily a moral force with limited jurisdiction, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Dec. 3, 2012
Pope makes new rules to strengthen charities' Catholic identity
Warning that Catholic charitable activity must not become "just another form of organized social assistance," Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules to strengthen the religious identity of Catholic charities and ensure that their activities conform to church teaching.
Dec. 3, 2012
Under the big top, traditional values thrive, are shared, pope says
Circuses, street musicians, clowns, magicians and other itinerant performers not only bring people joy, but their traditional lifestyle is an example of hard work, sacrifice, strong families and real respect between people of different generations, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Dec. 3, 2012
With @Pontifex, pope reaches out to new kind of followers
To celebrate the launch of his new Twitter account, Pope Benedict XVI will tweet the answers to a handful of questions from his followers.
Dec. 3, 2012
Judges in 'VatiLeaks' case say computer tech was hard to believe
Explaining why they found a Vatican computer technician guilty of aiding and abetting the papal butler who stole private papal correspondence, Vatican judges said they found much of his testimony hard to believe.
Nov. 30, 2012
Is capitalism Catholic? A priest defends free-market economics
A U.S. priest says free-market economics is compatible with Catholic social teaching.
Nov. 29, 2012
Reading Vatican II as break with tradition is heresy, prefect says
Traditionalist and progressive camps that see the Second Vatican Council as breaking with the truth both espouse a "heretical interpretation" of the council and its aims, said the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Nov. 28, 2012
When sharing the faith, keep it simple, joyful, credible, pope says
In a world of hardened hearts and titillating distractions, Christians need to keep the Gospel message simple and live what they teach with love and joy, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Nov. 28, 2012
World AIDS Day: Pope highlights problem of poverty in fighting HIV
In a special appeal against HIV and AIDS, Pope Benedict XVI called for special attention to those unable to afford life-saving drugs, especially pregnant and nursing women affected by the disease.
Nov. 27, 2012
Vatican says it will promote religious liberty in Saudi-backed center
A new Saudi-backed interfaith center will provide an opportunity for the church to promote religious freedom for Christians and others around the world, said the head of the Vatican's office for interreligious dialogue.
Nov. 26, 2012
Pope appeals for peace in Mideast, greets pilgrims from four continents
Greeting hundreds of Christians from Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged their presence in the Middle East and launched a fresh appeal for peace in the region.
Nov. 26, 2012
Cardinal O'Brien visits Holy Land with message of solidarity, peace
On the eve of his first trip to the Holy Land as grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien said he hoped to encourage the region's Christian minority with a message of solidarity from Pope Benedict XVI and other Catholics in the West.
Nov. 24, 2012
Celebrating church's universality, pope creates new cardinals
Recalling that Christ's mission transcends "all ethnic, national and religious particularities," Pope Benedict XVI created six new cardinals from four different continents, representing the Latin rite of the Catholic Church as well as two Eastern Catholic Churches.
Nov. 21, 2012
Papal penmen: Pope Benedict's literary predecessors
The Nov. 21 publication of "Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives," which completes Pope Benedict XVI's popular three-volume series on the life and teachings of Christ, is the latest reminder of the author's prolific output, now amounting to more than 60 books.
Nov. 21, 2012
Pope condemns escalating Gaza conflict, calls for truce, talks
Pope Benedict XVI condemned escalating hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians, saying hatred and violence are never an appropriate solution to problems.
Nov. 21, 2012
Lives, planet at stake without knowledge of God's truth, pope says
Belief in God is not only compatible with science, it is ultimately necessary for the preservation of human life on earth, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Nov. 20, 2012
Nativity story's significance continues to unfold today, pope writes
The Nativity story, like the whole story of Christ, is not merely an event in the past, but has unfolding significance for people today, with implications for such issues as the limits of political power and the purpose of human freedom, Pope Benedict writes in his third and final volume on the life and teachings of Jesus.
Nov. 19, 2012
Health is universal good to be defended, not commoditized, says pope
Good health is a benefit that needs to be defended and guaranteed for all people, not just for those who can afford it, Pope Benedict XVI told hundreds of health care workers.
Nov. 19, 2012
Protecting marriage, human life part of serving common good, pope says
Catholics are called to serve the common good of society, including by protecting traditional marriage and defending human life, Pope Benedict XVI told bishops from France.
Nov. 16, 2012
By the numbers: Consistory to expand variety in College of Cardinals
Headlines in most Italian newspapers the morning after Pope Benedict announced the new cardinals all pointed out the absence of new Italian or new European cardinals.
Nov. 16, 2012
Pope tells young to welcome Christ's embrace, share his love
When young Catholics from around the world gather in Rio de Janeiro in July, they will be under the gaze of the city's famous statue of Christ with outstretched arms, a reminder of his desire to embrace all people, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Nov. 15, 2012
Sacred music can attract lapsed Catholics back to God, pope says
Sacred music can bolster people's faith and help lapsed Catholics rediscover the beauty of God, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Nov. 15, 2012
Pope says all Christians must face together challenge of secularization
Sharing an obligation to spread the good news of salvation in Christ, all Christian communities are challenged by the fact that many people today do not think they need God, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Nov. 14, 2012
Vatican congregation sets up office for art, architecture, music
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments is establishing an office to promote the development and use of appropriate liturgical art, architecture and music.
Nov. 14, 2012
Christianity isn't rules, escapism; it's encounter with love, pope says
Far from being just a moral or ethical code, Christianity is "an experience of love; it's welcoming the person of Jesus," Pope Benedict XVI said during his weekly general audience.
Nov. 13, 2012
Vatican: Revised charter for health care workers to be out next year
The Vatican was preparing to release an update to its 1995 Charter for Health Care Workers that would include the church's expanded teachings on bioethics, health coverage and so-called "orphan drugs."
Nov. 13, 2012
US superior of SSPX denies group is anti-Semitic
The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X "completely rejects the false claim that it teaches or practices anti-Semitism, which is a racial hatred of the Jewish people whether on account of their ethnicity, culture or religious beliefs," said the society's U.S. district superior.
Nov. 12, 2012
Vatican court finds computer tech guilty of aiding, abetting butler
A Vatican court found Claudio Sciarpelletti, a computer expert in the Secretariat of State, guilty of aiding and abetting the papal butler, who was convicted of stealing sensitive Vatican correspondence.
Nov. 12, 2012
Pope establishes pontifical Latin Academy
Pope Benedict XVI has established the "Pontifical Academy of Latinity" to promote the study of the Latin language and culture, and not just within the Catholic Church.
Nov. 12, 2012
Visiting elderly, pope says 'it's wonderful being old'
Presenting himself as "an elderly man visiting his peers," Pope Benedict XVI visited a Rome residence for the elderly, urging the residents to see their age as a sign of God's blessing and urging society to value their presence and wisdom.
Nov. 9, 2012
Four years later, Vatican takes a different approach toward Obama
The day after Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008, the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, hailed his election as a "choice that unites." Four years later, the Vatican's reaction to Obama's re-election had a markedly different tone.
Nov. 9, 2012
Ambassador says tensions did not prevent US-Vatican cooperation
Miguel Diaz, preparing to leave his post as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, acknowledged tensions between the Obama administration and the U.S. Catholic bishops, but said his goal always was to build bridges between the U.S. government and the Vatican.
Nov. 9, 2012
Vatican official hopes fake papal tweets stop once official site opens
There are dozens of unofficial @PopeBenedict handles and usernames in a number of different permutations and languages on Twitter; many are using an official portrait of the pope as their avatar and some boast thousands of followers.
Nov. 9, 2012
Fight against terrorism, crime can't be criminal, immoral, pope says
While condemning terrorism and organized crime as brutal and barbaric forms of violence, Pope Benedict XVI also criticized efforts to fight crime in ways that go against moral norms and the rule of law.
Nov. 8, 2012
Vatican announces pope's Christmas season schedule
Pope Benedict XVI will preside over a full schedule of public Masses and prayer services over the Advent and Christmas season.
Nov. 8, 2012
Vatican police chief talks to Interpol about protecting religious art
Churches, particularly in Italy and Europe, are packed with valuable works of art that thieves can carry away with greater ease when a church is practically abandoned or when the priest and local people have no idea of the objects' value, said the Vatican's police chief.
Nov. 8, 2012
Faith, science must cooperate to protect people, planet, pope says
Dialogue and cooperation between faith and science are urgently needed for building a culture that respects people and the planet, Pope Benedict XVI told his own science academy.
Nov. 8, 2012
Cardinal: Vatican-SSPX talks do not signal toleration of anti-Judaism
The effort to reintegrate the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X into the Catholic Church "absolutely does not mean" that the Catholic Church will accept or support the anti-Jewish or anti-Semitic positions espoused by some members of the society, said the president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.
Nov. 7, 2012
Don't be satisfied with achievements; pursue greater good, pope says
During his general audience talk to some 20,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter' s Square Nov. 7, the pope spoke about "the mysterious desire for God," which lies deep in every human heart.
Nov. 7, 2012
Pope sends $1 million in aid for Syria, cardinal delegate to Lebanon
Instability and increasing violence in Syria have prompted Pope Benedict XVI to cancel the planned visit to the war-torn nation by a delegation of cardinals and bishops.
Nov. 7, 2012
Pope sends Obama telegram with prayers that freedom, justice flourish
Pope Benedict XVI congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama on his re-election, saying that he prayed the ideals of freedom and justice that guided America's founders might continue to flourish.
Nov. 6, 2012
Family is key ally in fighting crime, Vatican official tells Interpol
The absolute frontline in the prevention of crime is the family, a top Vatican official told members of Interpol, the international police organization.
Nov. 5, 2012
Decrying situation of Chinese Catholics, cardinal calls for dialogue
Over the past five years, relations between the government of China and the Catholic Church unfortunately have been marked by "misunderstandings, accusations" and new "stumbling blocks" to religious freedom, said the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Nov. 5, 2012
Remembering the dead is profession of hope in eternal life, pope says
When Christians remember their beloved deceased, they proclaim that their bonds with them are not broken by death and they profess their hope in eternal life, said Pope Benedict XVI.
Nov. 5, 2012
'VatiLeaks' trial of Vatican computer tech begins
A Vatican computer technician charged with aiding and abetting the papal butler in stealing confidential documents went on trial amid legal arguments over the definition of the charge and questions about the "anonymous source" who reported him to officials.
Nov. 2, 2012
Vatican to begin trial of computer tech accused of helping papal butler
Claudio Sciarpelletti, a computer technician in the Vatican Secretariat of State, is to be tried on charges of aiding and abetting Paolo Gabriele, the papal butler, who was convicted of aggravated theft for stealing or photocopying private Vatican correspondence -- including letters to and from the pope.
Nov. 1, 2012
Respect and difference: interreligious dialogue since Vatican II
While some Catholics still look on other religions with disdain, other Catholics seem to believe Vatican II taught that all religions were equally valid paths to God and to the fullness of truth. A Vatican official says both extremes are wrong.
Nov. 1, 2012
Anger management vital for clergy and religious, Jesuit journal says
Anger awareness and management are vital for priests and members of religious orders because they are called to be people of dialogue, fraternity, service, peace and justice, and to treat others with charity, said an influential Jesuit magazine.
Nov. 1, 2012
All Saints' Day calls for deeper belief in eternal life, pope says
The pope said the feast of All Saints includes a celebration of the holy men and women, "whom only God knows," but who have not officially been proclaimed saints.
Oct. 31, 2012
Pope marks 500th anniversary of Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes
With a small group of cardinals, Vatican employees and guests joining him for an evening prayer service, the pope asked them to try to imagine what it must have been like 500 years ago to look up and see those famous paintings for the first time.
Oct. 31, 2012
Pope prays for Hurricane Sandy victims, encourages rebuilding efforts
"Conscious of the devastation caused by the hurricane which recently struck the East Coast of the United States of America, I offer my prayers for the victims and express my solidarity with all those engaged in the work of rebuilding," he said Oct. 31 at the end of his weekly general audience.
Oct. 30, 2012
Vatican says it is willing to be patient with SSPX in reconciliation bid
"Patience, serenity, perseverance and trust are needed" as the Vatican continues talks aimed at full reconciliation with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, said a statement from the Vatican commission overseeing the discussions.
Oct. 30, 2012
By virtue of sacrament, Catholic spouses are missionaries, knight says
The sacrament of matrimony makes Catholic spouses and their families public signs of God's love and thus missionaries, said the head of the Knights of Columbus.
Oct. 29, 2012
Pope says faith and hope are foundation of migrants' journeys
The pope chose "Migrations: pilgrimage of faith and hope" as the theme for the 2013 celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and issued a message that touched on many facets of what he called a "striking phenomenon" that raises "dramatic challenges."
Oct. 29, 2012
Synod members propose ways to promote evangelization
Members of the Synod of Bishops recommended the Vatican establish a commission to monitor religious freedom, develop guidelines for training evangelizers and ensure there is a church in every diocese where confession is always available.
Oct. 26, 2012
Misreading of Vatican II dampened missionary zeal, theologian says
On the subject of the Second Vatican Council, Ralph Martin is nothing if not an enthusiast. But in at least one crucial area, he says, the council's expectations have been gravely disappointed.
Oct. 26, 2012
Faith in Jesus means being optimistic about future, synod message says
Despite the growth of secularism, increased hostility toward Christianity and sinful behavior by some church ministers, members of the Synod of Bishops said they are optimistic about the future because of Christ's promise of salvation.
Oct. 25, 2012
Cardinal-designate says pope appreciates diversity of Indian church
The 53-year-old head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church said Pope Benedict XVI's decision to make him a cardinal is a sign of the pope's appreciation for Indian Catholics' "unity in diversity."
Oct. 25, 2012
Former papal butler begins 18-month sentence in Vatican prison cell
Paolo Gabriele, the pope's former butler who was found guilty of aggravated theft, was to be transferred from house arrest to a Vatican prison cell to begin his 18-month sentence.
Oct. 25, 2012
Archbishop Chaput: Catholic teaching trumps party loyalty on abortion
"(Abortion) really is a big issue today, and I think what it requires of Catholics is a loyalty to the church prior to their political party," said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput.
Oct. 24, 2012
Pope names six new cardinals, including US Archbishop Harvey
Pope Benedict XVI surprised pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Oct. 24 by announcing he would create six new cardinals, including 63-year-old U.S. Archbishop James M. Harvey, prefect of the papal household, in late November.
Oct. 24, 2012
Cardinal-designate 'Chito' known in Philippines for theology, humility
Cardinal-designate Luis Tagle, 55, of Manila, Philippines, "really takes care of people ... he's so simple and generous and there's no class structure when he deals with people; everyone is equal in his eyes," said Nemie Anciado, a longtime custodian at the cathedral in Imus, Philippines, where the cardinal-designate was bishop from 2001 to 2011.
Oct. 24, 2012
Four new cardinals had to keep news secret from synod
Four of the six new cardinals announced by Pope Benedict XVI Oct. 24 were participating in the world Synod of Bishops at the Vatican and had to keep their impending appointments secret as they participated in the synod's small-group work that morning.
Oct. 24, 2012
Material progress not enough to make people free, happy, pope says
While scientific knowledge and advancements "are important for human life, it's not enough on its own," the pope said Oct. 24 at his weekly general audience.
Oct. 24, 2012
SSPX expels Bishop Williamson, who opposed talks with Vatican
The leadership of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X has expelled British Bishop Richard Williamson from the society, saying he distanced himself from them and refused "to show due respect and obedience to his lawful superiors."
Oct. 23, 2012
Trial set for second Vatican employee; report issued on butler's trial
Claudio Sciarpelletti, the Vatican Secretariat of State computer technician accused of aiding and abetting the pope's butler in stealing confidential Vatican correspondence, will go on trial at the Vatican Nov. 5.
Oct. 23, 2012
Trip of papal delegation to Syria postponed
The visit of a papal delegation to the capital of war-torn Syria, previously announced for late October, has been postponed indefinitely, and the delegation's membership, which was to have included Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, will be changed.
Oct. 22, 2012
Pope gives Ratzinger Theology Prize to American, French scholars
Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the 2012 Ratzinger Prize for Theology on an American expert on the early church fathers and a French scholar of religious philosophy.
Oct. 22, 2012
Pilgrims flock to Rome to celebrate their new saints
Wearing Native American beads and feathers, Hawaiian leis, classic Filipino shirts, or German dirndls, Catholics from around the globe gathered in St. Peter's Square to celebrate the recognition of seven new saints.
Oct. 22, 2012
Canadians see St. Kateri's canonization as help for reconciliation
After decades of resentment and horror over the abuse of indigenous children, the canonization of St. Kateri Tekakwitha marked a further step toward the reconciliation of the indigenous communities and the Catholic Church.
Oct. 21, 2012
Pope proclaims seven new saints, including St. Kateri, St. Marianne
Proclaiming seven new saints -- including St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Marianne Cope from North America -- Pope Benedict XVI said they are examples to the world of total dedication to Christ and tireless service to others.
Oct. 19, 2012
People need to believe in miracles, says woman cured of infection
Sharon Smith’s unexplained recovery from a near fatal infection in 2005 was the second miracle that cleared the way for the Oct. 21 canonization of Blessed Marianne Cope.
Oct. 19, 2012
Cardinal Pell: Synod's tone reflects 'struggle between good and evil'
If the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization has seemed to lack a certain "fire and energy," the gathering's sober tone reflects the fact that the Catholic Church is "in the midst of an enormous struggle between good and evil," said Australian Cardinal George Pell of Sydney.
Oct. 19, 2012
Kateri and Jake: American Indians are joined in sainthood cause
Jake Finkbonner knows what it's like to have kids tease him because of the way he looks, but one of his heroes also grew up being teased.
Oct. 17, 2012
Challenges don't lessen obligation to evangelize, Cardinal Wuerl says
The challenges of being human and of living in a world that does not always want to hear about faith do not lessen the obligation to proclaim the Gospel and to call the baptized to live their faith more fully, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington told members of the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization Oct. 17.
Oct. 17, 2012
Bishops, religious must dialogue, cooperate, synod speakers say
Members of religious orders have been and continue to be at the forefront of the Catholic Church's evangelizing efforts; they are not just "resources" to be used for new programs, said the head of the international organization of women's religious orders.
Oct. 17, 2012
Pope sends cardinals to Syria to promote peace, show solidarity
A papal delegation of bishops, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, will travel to the capital of war-torn Syria in late October to show solidarity with victims and encourage peace negotiations.
Oct. 17, 2012
Ignorance of faith risks creating cafeteria Catholics, pope says
Ignorance of the faith puts Christians at risk of following a "do-it-yourself" religion, Pope Benedict XVI said Oct. 17 at his weekly general audience.
Oct. 16, 2012
Blessed John Paul's popemobile put on display at Vatican Museums
The white open-air jeep Blessed John Paul II was riding in when he was shot May 13, 1981, was taken out of storage and put on display in the Vatican Museums' newly revamped Popemobile Pavilion.
Oct. 16, 2012
Bishops tell synod church needs lively parishes, Bible literacy
The solemn yet exuberant liturgies of African Catholic churches are a model for other Catholic communities seeking to invigorate their parishes and reach out to lapsed members, a Nigerian bishop told the world Synod of Bishops.
Oct. 15, 2012
New York's Cardinal Dolan embraces a new role: pastor in Rome
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, who became a cardinal in February, took formal possession of his titular church in characteristically ebullient style, literally embracing as many of his new flock as he could, and punctuating the observances with his trademark humor.
Oct. 15, 2012
Science, faith can work together to help world, scientist tells bishops
Science and faith need each other for the benefit of all of creation, a Nobel-prize winning geneticist told Pope Benedict XVI and the world's bishops.
Oct. 15, 2012
Evangelization requires more outreach to young adults, archbishop says
The Catholic Church does a fairly good job providing religious education to children but seems to fail with young adults just when they are making independent decisions about how they will live, said an American archbishop addressing the Synod of Bishops.
Oct. 15, 2012
New popemobile designs feature imaginative, high-tech touches
Ten teams of young international designers battled it out to produce an innovative eco-friendly popemobile that could guarantee high "pope visibility," meet strict security standards and promise low emissions.
Oct. 12, 2012
Fifty years later, a bishop remembers Vatican II
Bishop William J. McNaughton, 85, attended all four sessions of Vatican II from 1962 to 1965, missing only two days because of illness.
Oct. 12, 2012
Canadian bishop tells synod that church must respond to abuse crisis
A Canadian bishop whose diocese was rocked by clerical sex abuse crises told the Synod of Bishops that the new evangelization must address the reality of distrust and disappointment the scandal left in its wake.
Oct. 12, 2012
Vatican II's call for renewal did not break with tradition, pope says
The Second Vatican Council's call for "renewal" did not mark a break with tradition or a watering down of the faith, but reflected Christianity's lasting vitality and God's eternal presence, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Oct. 11, 2012
Pilgrims at Vatican II Mass highlight council's openness to world
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council with a Mass outdoors was a reminder of the fact that the council called the Catholic Church to live and work in the world, said Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz.
Oct. 11, 2012
At anniversary Mass, pope recalls 'authentic spirit' of Vatican II
Marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the start of a special Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI called on Catholics to revive the "authentic spirit" of Vatican II by re-proposing the church's ancient teachings to an increasingly Godless modern world.
Oct. 11, 2012
Pope presents Vatican II messages for laypeople to help change world
In a gesture recalling how the Second Vatican Council sought to enhance the connection between the church and the world, Pope Benedict XVI handed out copies of the council's messages for laypeople in various walks of life.
Oct. 10, 2012
Pope Benedict recalls Vatican II with praise and criticism
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, published a short reminiscence of the council by Pope Benedict XVI.
Oct. 10, 2012
Evangelization must flow from experience, Anglican leader tells synod
Evangelization is not a project, but the natural "overflow" of an experience of Christ and his church that transforms lives, giving them meaning and joy, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion told Pope Benedict XVI and the Synod of Bishops.
Oct. 10, 2012
Church needs witness of women proud to be Catholic, archbishop says
New evangelization will never be possible without women who are proud and happy to belong to the Catholic Church, the president of the Belgian bishops' conference told the Synod of Bishops.
Oct. 10, 2012
Vatican II texts critical for navigating troubled world, pope says
Though they were written a half-century ago, the documents that came out of the Second Vatican Council are indispensable for helping today's Christians navigate their way in a stormy world, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Oct. 9, 2012
Humility, solidarity are key to evangelization, synod members say
"The Gospel can be preached to empty stomachs, but only if the stomach of the preacher is as empty as his parishioners' (stomachs)," a Philippine archbishop told the Synod of Bishops.
Oct. 9, 2012
For synod members, media part of the problem, part of the solution
The Catholic Church needs to use its media and social networks to spread the faith because much of the news media cover the church in a way that "is full of lies," Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest told the Synod of Bishops.
Oct. 8, 2012
Cardinal Wuerl: Evangelization should be relevant, rooted in tradition
Catholic efforts to reach out to lapsed members must show them the relevance of faith today, but "must do so without losing its rootedness in the great living faith tradition of the church," Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington told Pope Benedict XVI and bishops from around the world gathered at the Vatican.
Oct. 8, 2012
Pope adds two saints to list of church 'doctors'
The pope proclaimed the new doctors, St. John of Avila and St. Hildegard of Bingen, at Mass Oct. 7 in St. Peter's Square, where the thousands in attendance included pilgrims waving Spanish flags, and German nuns in traditional habits.
Oct. 8, 2012
Pope, opening synod, says Christ is the answer to humanity's questions
To evangelize means to help people understand that God himself has responded to their questions, and that his response -- the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ -- is available to them as well, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Oct. 6, 2012
Vatican court finds papal butler guilty; sentences him to 18 months
A three-judge panel of Vatican jurists found Paolo Gabriele, the papal butler, guilty of aggravated theft and sentenced him to 18 months in jail for his role in leaking private papal correspondence and other confidential documents.
Oct. 5, 2012
Faith-science dialogue takes center stage at synod on evangelization
The dialogue between faith and science will take center stage during the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization, when a Nobel Prize-winning microbiologist addresses some 250 bishops from around the world.
Oct. 5, 2012
Pope authorizes granting of indulgences for Year of Faith events
Pope Benedict XVI authorized the granting of a plenary, or full, indulgence in order to highlight the Year of Faith and encourage the "reading, or rather, the pious meditation on" the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Oct. 4, 2012
Cardinal Wuerl: Synod strives to turn back 'tsunami of secularism'
Although Vatican II was faithful to the church's traditional doctrines, the cardinal said, implementation of the council's teachings in the 1960s and 1970s coincided with a "current of secularism sweeping the Western world," especially Europe.
Oct. 4, 2012
Pope, at Marian shrine, entrusts Year of Faith, synod to Mary
The pope was marking the 50th anniversary of Blessed John XXIII's visit to the Marian shrine, about 175 miles northwest of Rome, when he entrusted to Mary's care the Second Vatican Council, which began Oct. 11, 1962.
Oct. 4, 2012
Protester perched on dome of Vatican basilica leaves after 28 hours
With the help of two Vatican firefighters and the rope he had tied around himself, the protester, Marcello Di Finizio, climbed back up to the public walkway on top of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica about 8 p.m. local time.
Oct. 3, 2012
Christ, not priest or faithful, is at center of the liturgy, pope says
The pope spoke to an estimated 20,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly general audience. The talk was the latest focusing on the liturgy in the pope's series on the subject of prayer.
Oct. 3, 2012
Man protesting government economic policies climbs St. Peter's dome
A 49-year-old Italian man protesting the economic policies of Italy and Europe scaled a fence on top of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 2 and remained there the next day as some 20,000 people listened to Pope Benedict XVI deliver his weekly general audience talk
Oct. 3, 2012
Police testify papal butler's apartment crammed with documents
Vatican police officers who searched Paolo Gabriele's apartment testified they found "an infinite amount" of documents and news clippings covering a vast range of topics, including the Masons, the Vatican bank and yoga.
Oct. 2, 2012
Vatican investigates conditions of butler's detention
Paolo Gabriele, the papal butler on trial in the Vatican, told judges that for 20 days he was held in a tiny cell where he could not even fully extend both arms and where Vatican police kept the lights on 24 hours a day.
Oct. 2, 2012
Papal butler says he's innocent of theft, but guilty of betraying pope
Paolo Gabriele, the papal butler charged with stealing and leaking papal correspondence, said he was innocent of charges of aggravated theft, but "I feel guilty for having betrayed the trust the Holy Father placed in me."
Oct. 1, 2012
Pope tells Catholics not to be jealous when others do Christ's work
Catholics should rejoice, and not be jealous, when other Christians succeed in doing the work of the Lord, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Sept. 29, 2012
Judges order separate trials for papal butler, computer expert
A Vatican tribunal determined the two suspects indicted for their parts in the VatiLeaks' scandal should be tried separately.
Sept. 29, 2012
Digital dilemma: Church needs to show how Gospel is best search result
Having a Catholic presence online isn't enough for effective evangelization, the Vatican said. The church must develop "a new way of thinking" in order to find ways that engage and help people meet Christ.
Sept. 28, 2012
Rosary key to evangelization, helping families, says Marian expert
As the church is set to begin the Year of Faith and a synod on the new evangelization, the rosary can play a key role in strengthening and spreading the word of God, said a leading American expert in Marian studies.
Sept. 28, 2012
US Jesuit, French philosopher win Ratzinger Prize
The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation, established to promote studies in theology and philosophy, will award one of its two major prizes this year to U.S. Jesuit Father Brian E. Daley, a patristics expert and professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame.
Sept. 27, 2012
New world evangelization: Synod's agenda includes America
Looking ahead to the world Synod of Bishops, which meets at the Vatican Oct. 7-28, several U.S. participants spoke with Catholic News Service about the obstacles that the new evangelization faces in their country and some of the particular strengths that the church brings to the task.
Sept. 27, 2012
'VatiLeaks' trial will be landmark event for Vatican tribunal
For the Vatican's criminal court, the trial of Paolo Gabriele and Claudio Sciarpelletti for their alleged part in leaking papal correspondence will be unusual and may lead the Vatican to invoke a never-used cooperation agreement with Italy.
Sept. 27, 2012
Vatican congregation restructures course on religious life
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and reflect on the major changes it brought to consecrated life, the Vatican's congregation for religious has overhauled the course it offers on theology and canon law.
Sept. 26, 2012
Pope John Paul I sainthood cause moves forward
Promoters of the sainthood cause of Pope John Paul I, who served as head of the church for just over a month, met Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 26 to bring him up to date on their work.
Sept. 26, 2012
Pope says God's word comes first in worship
In everyday life, people are told that it's best to think before they speak, but in worship, speaking God's word should come before reflection, said Pope Benedict XVI at his weekly public audience.
Sept. 25, 2012
Middle Eastern speakers in Rome denounce Western interference, neglect
Western nations need to respect the people of the Middle East and trust them to solve their own problems, said an Iraqi diplomat, an Iraqi archbishop and a Syrian-born representative of the Melkite Catholic Church.
Sept. 25, 2012
In Rome, Benedictine abbots ask what attracts vocations
Benedictine abbots from around the world gathered in a monastery atop the Aventine Hill in Rome to discuss what has been happening in their monasteries, how they can work together and how they can reach out to the rest of the world.
Sept. 24, 2012
In Rome, Nigerians see social benefits from spiritual pilgrimages
The Nigerian government gives financial aid to Christians visiting the Holy Land and New Testament sites in Greece and Rome, just as it pays for Muslims to make the "haj," or pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Sept. 24, 2012
Christian politicians must protect marriage, common good, pope says
All Christians are called upon to defend and promote human dignity, and "this responsibility particularly concerns those called to political office," he told representatives of Christian Democratic parties from around the world.
Sept. 24, 2012
Pope names record number of women to Synod on Evangelization
Choosing men and women from every part of the world and from a wide variety of professions, Pope Benedict XVI nominated 45 experts and 49 observers for the upcoming world Synod of Bishops.
Sept. 20, 2012
A Vatican Latin expert finds new uses for an ancient language
When Msgr. Daniel B. Gallagher was a microbiology major at the University of Michigan, his growing curiosity about the "deep questions" led the pre-med student to take philosophy and other humanities courses on the side. By the time he graduated, he had discerned his vocation to the priesthood and also discovered the appeal of Latin.
Sept. 20, 2012
Marking Jewish holy days, pope urges joint sharing of faith values
Pope Benedict XVI expressed hope that Christians and Jews would bear witness to the whole world of the values that stem from adoring one God.
Sept. 19, 2012
Papyrus fragment with reference to Jesus' 'wife' stirs debate
Scholars are unlikely to agree anytime soon on the authenticity of a newly published text containing a reference to Jesus' "wife." But the tiny papyrus fragment has already stirred interest in the early church's attitudes toward marriage, sex and the role of women.
Sept. 19, 2012
New head of doctrinal congregation says abuse victims are first concern
The senior Vatican official with authority for investigating priests accused of sexual abuse said that, in such cases, "always and everywhere the most important concern is for those who have been the victims of this terrible abuse."
Sept. 19, 2012
Christians, Muslims must give joint witness for peace, pope says
Pope Benedict XVI said his three-day trip to Lebanon convinced him that now is the time for Christians and Muslims to bear witness together against violence and in favor of dialogue and peace.
Sept. 18, 2012
Pope appoints Archbishop Gomez, 35 others as synod members
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles and 35 other cardinals, bishops and priests to serve as full members of the Synod of Bishops this fall on the new evangelization.
Sept. 17, 2012
In Lebanon, Pope Benedict's presence was the message
The pope’s most eloquent message of hope to the troubled region lay not in the diplomatic language of his public statements, but in his very presence and the response it evoked from his hosts.
Sept. 17, 2012
Jesuits move to re-create Apostleship of Prayer
The Apostleship of Prayer, the Jesuit-run outreach that has brought Catholics the pope's monthly prayer intentions since 1890, is in the midst of a serious effort to re-create itself and broaden its outreach.
Sept. 17, 2012
Vatican trial date set for two men indicted in VatiLeaks scandal
The first day of the public trial, which will be held in a Vatican courtroom, is set for Sept. 29, the Vatican announced Sept. 17.
Sept. 17, 2012
Orthodox patriarch, Anglican leader to attend Vatican II celebration
The Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury will join Pope Benedict XVI's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
Sept. 16, 2012
Pope calls Middle Eastern Christians to suffering, service
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged the suffering of Christians in the Middle East, reassuring them and urging them to promote peace through religiously inspired service to their societies.
Sept. 15, 2012
At youth celebration, pope tells Christians: Stay and make peace
Pope Benedict XVI urged young Christians in the Middle East not to flee violence and economic insecurity through emigration, but to draw strength from their faith and make peace in their troubled region.
Sept. 15, 2012
Pope says religious freedom is necessary for Middle East peace
Peace will not come to the Middle East until its nations enjoy religious freedom, since only the free practice of faith can inspire the region's diverse peoples to unite around basic human values, Pope Benedict XVI said Sept. 15.
Sept. 14, 2012
Pope urges interfaith dialogue in Mideast, defends religious freedom
Pope Benedict XVI presented a major document calling on Catholics in the Middle East to engage in dialogue with Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim neighbors, but also to affirm and defend their right to live freely in the region where Christianity was born.
Sept. 14, 2012
Church studies: Vatican fosters research, welcomes scholars
No one should be surprised by the range of the Vatican's scholarly interests or its interest to scholars. After all, one church historian noted, Jesus was interested in everything about human life and the world, and St. Paul's letters show he not only preached to the ancient Greeks, he knew their culture and philosophy.
Sept. 14, 2012
Pope Benedict arrives in Lebanon as 'pilgrim of peace'
In his remarks at a welcoming ceremony at Beirut's airport, Pope Benedict praised Lebanon, with a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, for its distinctive record of "coexistence and respectful dialogue."
Sept. 13, 2012
Vatican firmly condemns US deaths, disrespect against religions
"The very serious attack organized against the United States diplomatic mission in Libya," it said, "calls for the firmest possible condemnation on the part of the Holy See."
Sept. 12, 2012
Vatican laments US deaths in Libya, disrespect against religions
In the wake of the deaths of a U.S. ambassador and three staff members in Libya and the unrest triggered by a U.S.-made amateur film hostile to Islam, the Vatican decried disrespect toward all religions and deplored all violence as unacceptable.
Sept. 12, 2012
Cardinal tells new bishops to expect criticism, respond with fidelity
The Gospel in effect promises Christians they will face criticism. So even the church's leaders must learn to recognize when criticism is valid and when they must carry on with courage, the pope's top collaborator told a group of new bishops.
Sept. 12, 2012
Help Christians stay in Mideast, build peace, pope says at audience
Just two days before beginning a pastoral journey to the Middle East, Pope Benedict XVI launched an appeal to all Christians in the region to respond to social and political tensions and insecurity by being hopeful, active builders of peace and reconciliation.
Sept. 11, 2012
Vatican hires finance crime expert to aid compliance with global norms
In an effort to comply more fully with international standards against financial criminal activity, the Vatican has hired an outside expert in combating money laundering and financing terrorism.
Sept. 10, 2012
Preparing for Lebanon trip, pope laments 'anguish' of Middle East
Less than a week before traveling to Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI voiced solidarity with victims of war in the Middle East and called for continuing efforts to bring peace to the region.
Sept. 10, 2012
Religion's role in Arab Spring is promoting dignity, official says
Religious communities can assist the North African and Middle Eastern pro-democracy movements by upholding human dignity and not trying to claim power for one religion or one movement within a religion, a senior Vatican official said.
Sept. 10, 2012
Mary is model of mature Christian faith, pope tells Marian scholars
Mary, the Mother of God, represents a "full and mature" Christian faith, one that all believers should imitate, Pope Benedict XVI told Marian experts attending an academic conference in Rome.
Sept. 10, 2012
Ten Commandments are God's recipe for a good life, pope says
The Ten Commandments are a gift from God to help people live a correct relationship with God and with others, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Sept. 7, 2012
Misreading of Vatican II led to 'collapse' in Marian devotion, studies
Devotion to Mary "collapsed" in some parts of the United States after the Second Vatican Council even though the council fathers had upheld her critical place within the Catholic faith, said a leading American expert in Marian studies.
Sept. 7, 2012
Share the Gospel to transform lives, pope tells bishops
"Faith is the most important gift that we have been given in life; we cannot keep it just for ourselves," the pope said Sept. 7 during a meeting with 92 bishops ordained in the past year and named to dioceses in the church's mission territories.
Sept. 7, 2012
Pakistani court grants bail to girl accused of blasphemy
The Pakistani Christian girl accused of blasphemy was granted bail Sept. 7 after three weeks in police custody.
Sept. 6, 2012
Papal imprint: Benedict's teachings are leaving mark on future priests
Blessed John Paul II famously inspired a generation of vocations to the priesthood -- to the point that many new ordinands came to be known as "John Paul II priests." Now Pope Benedict XVI is making his mark on a new generation of future priests.
Sept. 6, 2012
Conference participants look at relation between power, abuse in church
The "most tragic wound" of clerical sexual abuse will not heal without a response from the entire Catholic Church -- hierarchy and laity together -- said the chief Vatican investigator of abuse cases.
Sept. 5, 2012
Pope asks African Catholics to defend values of faith, culture
Pope Benedict XVI encouraged lay Catholics in Africa to defend Christian and traditional African values, share their faith in Jesus and transform African society.
Sept. 5, 2012
Pope, at audience, says those who love Jesus want to pray
The more people love Jesus, the more they will want to spend time with him in prayer; and the more they pray, the more they will resemble him, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.
Sept. 4, 2012
With former students, pope focuses on search for truth, unity
The pope celebrated Mass with his former students Sept. 2 at the Focolare Center in Castel Gandolfo as part of the annual meeting of the "Ratzinger Schulerkreis" (Ratzinger Student Circle), a group that has met since 1978 to discuss topics in theology and the life of the church.
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