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May 9, 2008
Pacing the pontiff: Pope's seclusion is prudence, not disappearing act
Every pontificate has its rhythm, and sometimes Pope Benedict XVI's seems to have more than one.
May 2, 2008
Not an easy read: Survey indicates Bible hard to understand
The Bible: Most people in Europe and North America have one and some of them actually read it, but more than half of them say it is difficult to understand.
Apr. 25, 2008
Young man dedicates years to walk the world for Christian unity
While the church officially dedicates a week every year to pray for Christian unity, one young man has dedicated two years to try to heal divisions by walking across the world.
Apr.18 , 2008
Retired Vatican envoy from tiny San Marino helped heal world
Little did this pre-eminent surgeon from the tiny Republic of San Marino know that becoming an ambassador to the even smaller Vatican City State would give him a new platform from which to heal the world.
Apr.11 , 2008
No free-for-all: Papal visits follow tight framework
When Pope Benedict XVI sits down with interreligious leaders in Washington April 17, the participants will follow a set program that leaves little room for surprises.
Apr. 4, 2008
A work for eternity: Scribes give pope volume of illustrated Bible
It's being called the Sistine Chapel of calligraphy. The Saint John's Bible will be the first handwritten and illuminated Bible penned with ancient methods since the invention of the printing press, according to its creators.
Mar. 28, 2008
Tobacco-free zone? Pope urged to stomp out butts in Vatican City
The Vatican used to be known as a safe haven for cigarette smokers. That changed dramatically in 2002, when Vatican City prohibited smoking in offices and public places, but a U.S. group wants smoking restricted further.
Mar. 20, 2008
In U.S., pope likely to address provocative, fundamental themes
People speculating on what Pope Benedict XVI will say in the United States in April would do well to look at what he said at the Vatican on Palm Sunday.
Mar. 14, 2008
U.S. ambassador expects pope’s April visit to be thought-provoking
Americans who listen carefully will discover in the pope a “world-class intellectual who can speak in terms that are simple and clear and readily accessible,” said the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.
Mar. 7, 2008
After four centuries, Galileo to return to the Vatican
Four centuries after he was called by church officials to retract teachings deemed suspect of heresy, the 17th-century Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei will be returning to Vatican City.
Feb. 29, 2008
Ambiguities cloud moral, medical issues as end of life nears
Many Catholics still need to learn about the church’s teachings on end-of-life issues, such as when it might be morally acceptable to reject or terminate life-prolonging treatments, said some participants at a Vatican-sponsored congress.
Feb. 22, 2008
Reversing a crisis: Pope offers encouragement to religious orders
When Pope Benedict XVI met with the superiors of religious orders recently, most media coverage focused on the pope’s description of the “difficult crisis” facing religious life, but he offered encouragement and some advice for the future.
Feb. 15, 2008
Don't jump the gun: Norms for saints' causes call for careful study
In a new set of rules encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican is requiring dioceses to be more meticulous and objective when they prepare local sainthood causes.
Feb. 1, 2008
Evolution and creation: a recurring papal theme, often misunderstood
A recent article in the Vatican newspaper was another element of a debate that has kept percolating to the surface under Pope Benedict XVI.
Jan. 25, 2008
All ecumenism is local: Christian unity begins at the grass roots
In Rome, like in any other diocese, the search for Christian unity is fueled by the prayers and friendships of neighbors and their local pastors.
Jan. 18, 2008
Do the homework: University fiasco shows scholars miss pope's point
It was a first, at least in modern times: In Rome, the center of the Catholic world and the capital of Catholic Italy, a pope felt unwelcome to give a speech at the public university.
Jan. 10, 2008
New photo resource provides interesting peek into Vatican's past
Scholars, history buffs and the public at large will now be able to peek inside some of the Vatican's historical black-and-white photograph collection.
Jan. 4, 2008
Charity begins at home: Pope visits Vatican shelter, greets residents
Pope Benedict XVI’s 45-minute visit Jan. 4 to the Vatican’s shelter for the poor and homeless was distinctly simple and low-key.
Dec. 27, 2007
Pope's calendar in 2008 confirms life doesn't slow down after 80
With three foreign trips, a world Synod of Bishops on the Bible, an important dialogue with Muslims, and an encyclical and a new book in the works, 2008 is shaping up as perhaps the busiest year of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate.
Dec. 21, 2007
Evangelize: For pope, to know Gospel means to know Christ personally
In a year-end meeting with the Roman Curia, Pope Benedict XVI looked back on 2007 and identified a crucial theme: the need to evangelize.
Dec. 14, 2007
Travels, consistory, writings keep Pope Benedict busy in 2007
Pope Benedict XVI never gives the impression of being overburdened, yet a look back at 2007 reveals a long list of papal activities and achievements.
Dec. 7, 2007
Will new director take Vatican Museums far from the madding crowd?
Perhaps even more than Michelangelo’s frescoes or the statue of Laocoon, the discouragingly long entrance line -- often stretching half a mile -- has become the modern emblem of the Vatican Museums.
Nov. 30, 2007
With ritual but no pomp, Jesuit election not unlike papal conclave
While lacking the media attention and the pomp of a papal conclave, the election of the superior general of the Jesuits, known as the black pope, has its own rigid rules and ritual.
Nov. 21, 2007
Sizing up Catholic schools: a partnership between religious, laity
A transformation has occurred in Catholic schools over the last 50 years, and the Vatican took its measure at a recent press conference for a new Vatican document.
Nov. 16, 2007
Creating cardinals: Pomp, circumstance and giving input to the pope
The ceremony to create the cardinals takes only an hour or so, but the celebratory and consultative events that surround it last four days.
Nov.9,2007
Vatican ambassadors: Potpourri of insiders, politicians, scholars
Many countries' embassies to the Vatican have a priest on staff to help advise their ambassador on pontifical protocol and all things Catholic, but most of them could learn a few things from Mary Ann Glendon, the Harvard law professor President George W. Bush nominated as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.
Nov.2,2007
God and geeks: Vatican astronomer hunts for faith in Silicon Valley
If hard empirical evidence is what makes a techie brain tick, then how is he or she able to justify or believe in something as scientifically unprovable as God or as mind-boggling as transubstantiation?
Oct. 26, 2007
Enough, already! Vatican official says Templars book nothing new
It was billed as the Vatican's effort to "come clean" and reveal secret documents about the mysterious Knights Templar, the medieval crusading order that has inspired ancient legends and modern novels. But after seeing exaggerated press reports for two weeks, Bishop Sergio Pagano apparently had had enough.
Oct. 19, 2007
'Google-generation' seminarians minister with MySpace and more
An ocean away from family and friends, some U.S. seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome are bridging the divide with online communities and digital means of communication such as Skype, instant messaging, Facebook, MySpace and more.
Oct. 12, 2007
No signs of clogging: Saint-making pipeline’s flow never slowed
When Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005, one of his first decisions was to stop presiding over beatification ceremonies, but that has not slowed the number of people being declared blessed.
Oct. 5, 2007
Extreme makeover: Vatican newspaper's survival depends on its revival
The recent change at the helm of the Vatican newspaper marks an effort to revive a publication that has gone from glory days to malaise.
Sept. 28, 2007
Has the German pope re-Italianized the Roman Curia?
A string of Vatican appointments has left Italian prelates in high places.
Sept. 14, 2007
Consistory, book, encyclical to help keep pope busy this fall, winter
After a three-day trip to Austria in early September, Pope Benedict XVI is putting away his traveling shoes and settling in for a long fall and winter at the Vatican.
Sept. 7, 2007
For Pope Benedict, it's elemental: Safe water is of grave importance
When Pope Benedict XVI turns on the tap in his Vatican apartment, it's a reminder that potable water is a precious resource in today's world.
Aug. 31, 2007
Pilgrim globe-trotters: Modern jet-setters or old-fashioned trekkers?
The sky was no longer the limit when a Rome travel agency started offering specially chartered flights exclusively for globe-trotting pilgrims.
Aug. 24, 2007
Castel Sant’Angelo: Dank dungeon for common criminals
For the first time in a decade, summer tourists could make their way down steep stone steps deep into the dark, dank interior of a papal fortress and crawl into prison cells that housed countless common criminals as well as Rome’s errant elite.
Aug. 17, 2007
Catholic-Jewish relations: Bumps in the road should not slow journey
Summer brought a few bumps in the road of generally good Catholic-Jewish relations, bumps almost certainly caused inadvertently.
Aug. 10, 2007
At the helm: British woman steers worldwide Caritas aid network
The fact that Lesley-Anne Knight, secretary-general of Caritas Internationalis, is certain to be one of the few women in the room at many meetings does not seem to bother her or fire her up; it simply makes sense.
Aug. 3, 2007
Vatican publishing house: New page, new director, new ideas
With a new director at the helm, the Vatican publishing house is turning a new page. Salesian Father Giuseppe Costa, the recently appointed head of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana, said he wants to beef up the availability of Vatican publications around the world and expand the Vatican's offerings on art and culture. "
July 26, 2007
Ecology: Key to teaching young people about Christian morality
Pope Benedict XVI believes ecology could hold the key to teaching young people about Christian morality.
July 19, 2007
Vaticanstate.va: Navigating the world’s smallest country
-- Seven weeks after Pope Benedict XVI praised Vatican civil servants for their work in “our little state, from the most visible to the most hidden,” the state unveiled its own Web site.
July 13, 2007
This summer, Vatican tradition brings flurry of decisions, documents
Before Pope Benedict XVI took off for his summer vacation in the Italian Alps, he engaged in a time-honored Vatican tradition: clearing his desk.
July 6, 2007
Rushed scholars grumble over Vatican Library's reconstruction closure
Pope Benedict XVI was only one of hundreds of scholars making a rushed visit to the Vatican Library before it closes for a three-year emergency reconstruction project.
June 29, 2007
Politics, Communion, Catholic teaching: A tale of two politicians
How the church is treating former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani may seem like a double standard to some, but others say it's a bit more complicated than that.
June 22, 2007
In Assisi, Pope Benedict follows in John Paul's footsteps
Pope Benedict XVI's recent visit to Assisi was an emblematic event, demonstrating once again that this pontificate is more about continuity than revolution.
June 15, 2007
Scala Santa chapel: Under the soot and grime, a visual treasure
When a Vatican-led team of art restorers started scrubbing and scrutinizing what was underneath centuries of soot and grime caked on the ceiling and walls of a major shrine in Rome, they made a spectacular discovery.
June 7, 2007
Cool under pressure: Papal guards handle many pilgrims discreetly
Pope Benedict XVI's security guards are known for composure under pressure, and they showed it when a deranged German tried to jump onto the pope's jeep at a general audience.
June 1, 2007
Benedict and Bush: Meeting to highlight shared values, objectives
U.S. President George W. Bush is coming to the Vatican for his first formal audience with Pope Benedict XVI, a meeting seen on both sides as immensely important.
May 25, 2007
Going green: Vatican expands mission to saving planet, not just souls
A giant rooftop garden of solar panels will be built next year on top of the Vatican's Paul VI audience hall, creating enough electricity to heat, cool and light the entire building year-round.
May 17, 2007
Middle Eastern diplomats learn Vatican's unique, complex global role
The Vatican opened its doors to 18 diplomats from countries with significant Muslim populations attending a May 7-27 introductory course on the Vatican, Vatican diplomacy and the Vatican's approach to Catholic-Muslim and intercultural dialogue.
May 11, 2007
Fatima: The secret's out, despite claims to the contrary
Despite claims there are still secrets connected to the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Benedict XVI and his secretary of state said the entire message has been published and has been interpreted accurately.
May 4, 2007
Unlike pesky paparazzi, pope's photographers snap coolly, with class
Vatican photographers stand out from other media shutterbugs, not just because they're always dressed in ironed dark suits and ties, but because, coolly clicking away, they are the ones standing right next to the pope.
April 27, 2007
Mirroring wider debate, Vatican seminar on global warming gets heated
Despite being held in a cool, climate-controlled conference room, some early discussions at a Vatican-sponsored seminar on global warming and climate change got pretty heated.
April 20, 2007
Minority view: Participants publish their side of brain death debate
Breaching normal protocol, several participants in a 2005 Vatican-sponsored conference over the ethics of declaring someone brain dead have published the papers they delivered at the debate.
April 13, 2007
Pope Benedict at 80: Blowing on the coals of faith
When Pope John Paul II turned 80, there was speculation that he might resign. In contrast, Pope Benedict XVI's 80th birthday finds him with wind in his sails.
April 5, 2007
Writer of Vatican's Way of Cross reflections awed over responsibility
It's not every day a person gets a call from the Vatican, and most people would be bowled over when it happens.
March 30, 2007
Tridentine Mass: Pope looks for bridge to tradition
Sometime soon, Pope Benedict XVI is expected to broaden permission to use the Tridentine Mass, a long-standing request of traditionalists who favor the rite used before the Second Vatican Council.
March 23, 2007
‘Great support and open ears’: U.S. peace activists visit Vatican
Three U.S. Catholic peace activisits who visited the Vatican were not sure what kind of reception they’d get, but after a week of talks and meetings, they left feeling like they’d received a sympathetic hearing.
March 16, 2007
Two inside views of late pope's life don't make for redundant reading
As Pope John Paul II's sainthood cause rolled forward, two people close to him have offered quite different insider accounts of his life and times.
March 9, 2007
Delicate balance: Church assists Chinese without appearing powerful
While local government officials in some parts of China arrest Catholics, authorities in other areas of the country are tolerating, or even encouraging, Catholic charitable activity.
March 2, 2007
Women chip Vatican's glass ceiling with increased numbers, influence
The pope's Lenten retreat chapel offered a snapshot of a Vatican reality: The number of women working in the Roman Curia has steadily increased but, with rare exceptions, they have not broken through to the upper levels.
Feb. 23, 2007
Spiritual exercise: Pope clears calendar for annual Lenten retreat
The pope's weeklong Lenten retreat not only shut down the normal business of his pontificate, but also place the pope in the unusual position of doing all the listening and none of the talking.
Feb. 16, 2007
Church-state showdown: Italian bill proposes rights for unwed couples
An Italian legislative proposal that would grant some legal rights to unwed couples -- including same-sex partners -- has set the stage for a major church-state showdown.
Feb. 9, 2007
People person: Vatican's No. 2 man keeps high public profile
Historically, a Vatican secretary of state communicates in discreet, closed-door conversations and not via talk radio. But five months into his new job, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone already has signaled that he's going to be different.
Feb.2, 2007,
Lost in translation: Pope's asides might be changed in official texts
On some occasions, the pope's words have been deliberately tweaked by his own aides.
Jan. 26, 2007
Decisions on dying: Italian case highlights complex issue
The death of an Italian muscular dystrophy patient who had his respirator disconnected is fueling a complex and significant discussion among top church officials.
Jan. 19, 2007
Divine dullness: Usual images of heaven don't impress Christians
A recent sermon by the papal preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, took aim at John Lennon's famous line, "Imagine there's no heaven," saying it represented an empty, secularized vision of human destiny, but an Italian biblicist has approached the question from a different angle.
Jan. 12, 2007
Publish or perish? Church struggles to judge communist collaborators
The resignation of a Polish archbishop over spying revelations has highlighted a tension between judgment and forgiveness in the church, one that has taken on new meaning in post-communist Europe.
Jan. 5, 2007
Doctor, lawyer: Ambassadors to Vatican have diverse backgrounds
At first glance, the ambassadors accredited to the Vatican seem to be a group of elegant, older men gracefully ending their diplomatic careers in a posting filled with pomp and circumstance.
Dec. 22, 2006
2007 promises a world of busyness for Pope Benedict
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A new Vatican calendar features photos of Pope Benedict XVI relaxing, but the pope's own agenda for 2007 leaves little time for repose.
Dec. 21, 2006
Vatican soccer bug revealed: Staff tourneys, clerical cups, avid fans
A disease few talk about lies within the Vatican's walls: soccer fever. Several cardinals have been afflicted, and many of the city-state's Italian staff automatically were born with the soccer-mania bug.
Dec. 13, 2006
Year in review: 2006 saw acceleration of Benedict's papacy
For what was supposed to be a pared-back papacy, it was a busy 12 months.
Dec. 8, 2006
Vatican officials gauge life span, geographic reach of Turkey visit
Buoyed by Pope Benedict XVI's successful visit to Turkey, Vatican officials
are trying to gauge its long-term effect on ecumenical and Catholic-Muslim
dialogue in other parts of the world.
Nov. 30, 2006
Learning curve: Pope Benedict's approach to media, speeches evolving
Understanding and effectively communicating the pope's thinking in a world of 24-hour instant news is not easy, Pope Benedict acknowledged to journalists shortly before they all flew to Turkey.
Nov. 21, 2006
Papal trip to Turkey: Key questions test Benedict's pontificate
The Nov. 28-Dec. 1 trip was first envisioned as an ecumenical event, but interreligious issues have taken center stage.
Nov. 17, 2006
Poking fun at the pope: Satire sparks debate over limits of humor
Italians have a long history of satirizing the papacy, but recent gibes at Pope Benedict XVI and his personal secretary have ignited a national debate over the limits of humor.
Nov.10, 2006
In scientific predictions, the only certainty is nothing is certain
the Vatican, in an effort to remind science of the impact its predictions have on the public, hosted a meeting on the limits and accuracy of predictability in science.
Nov. 3, 2006
What's in a name? In Italy, probably a saint
Perhaps it is not so unusual that the Vatican, surrounded by Italy, named a parking garage after a saint. Besides, 21,000 Italian companies are named after saints.
Oct. 27, 2006
L'Osservatore Romano: 145 years as 'genuine face of the church'
The Vatican's semiofficial newspaper was born during a highly tumultuous time for the Papal States and is now a forceful champion of human rights.
Oct. 20, 2006
When building St. Peter's, great minds did not always think alike
Backbiting, criticism and running to the pope to tattle occurred repeatedly during the 120 years it took to build the world's largest church.
Oct. 13, 2006
Papal minibooks: Portable, affordable and rapidly disappearing
Pope Benedict XVI's writings are finding their way into bite-sized volumes that are enjoying unusual popular success, according to the Vatican publishing house.
Oct. 6, 2006
Is interreligious dialogue slowing? Vatican emphatically says no
The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue said the Vatican's commitment to interreligious dialogue not only continues, but "it is even stepping up."
Sept. 29, 2006
Building winners: Vatican works to put values back in sports
In an effort to help parents, coaches, athletes, schools, parishes and sports associations, the Vatican has published a book aimed at "rehumanizing" a sports world that tends to glorify winning at all costs to the detriment of players and spectators.
Sept. 22, 2006
Pope's blunt approach to dialogue strains existing interfaith bridges
Two of Pope Benedict XVI's three foreign trips this year have generated interreligious incidents that quickly overshadowed the main message of the papal visits.
Sept. 15, 2006
Vatican resuscitates issue of whether brain death means total death
After years of study and debate, the question of whether an individual declared brain-dead is really dead has been resuscitated once again.
Sept. 8, 2006
'Sala Stampa' style change: From toreador to low-key mathematician
At the Vatican press office, the Italian mathematician has replaced the Spanish bullfighter.
Sept. 1, 2006
New beginnings: Italian cardinal to take over as secretary of state
It's arguably the pope's biggest appointment to date, and it reunites him with a man who for many years was his No. 2 at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Aug. 25, 2006
Photographs and memories: Moving a piece of ecumenical history
"It's goodbye to an era," said the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity about the historic office's move to new quarters at the Vatican.
Aug. 18, 2006
Experts hope to get derailed Catholic-Orthodox dialogue back on track
Theological dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox churches has been derailed for six years. In mid-September, 60 ecumenical experts will try to get it back on track.
Aug. 11, 2006
'Pre-seminary' houses altar boys for St. Peter's Basilica
During the 2005-06 academic year, 21 altar boys, ages 11-18, ate, slept, studied and occasionally created chaos at the St. Pius X Pre-seminary inside the Vatican walls.
Aug. 4, 2006
Mideast war brings pope's foreign policy agenda into clearer focus
To the surprise of some, the Vatican's Middle East policies under Pope Benedict XVI look just like the policies of Pope John Paul II.
July 28, 2006
U.S. priests working at the Vatican call quiet Villa Stritch home
U.S. diocesan priests working at the Vatican hang their collars at the Villa Stritch, a complex with two apartment buildings surrounded by green lawns and an unusual silence for the city of Rome.
July 21, 2006
Customer service: Vatican operators staff switchboard 24/7
Even though it receives almost 2,000 calls a day, the Vatican is not about to outsource its small team of switchboard operators to answering machines or the labyrinth of automated phone menus.
July 14, 2006
'Go, Pope. Go!' Popes move by foot, train, plane or car
If children's author P.D. Eastman had written a sequel to his book "Go, Dog. Go!" about dogs on the move, it could have been about the many ways the pope gets around and would be called "Go, Pope. Go!"
July 7, 2006
Religious freedom: human right, not a bargaining chip
When Pope Benedict XVI invokes "reciprocity" in asking Muslim nations to respect the religious freedom of Catholics, he is stating an expectation, not bargaining or making a threat, a Vatican diplomat explained.
June 30, 2006
Do not forget: Book aims to dispel unease after pope's Birkenau talk
Amid lingering questions and even disappointment about Pope Benedict XVI's remarks at the Nazis' Birkenau death camp, the Vatican has published a book that attempts to place the speech in a wider context.
June 23, 2006
Bearded deities and stone Buddhas: Ethnology museum features Asia
To the surprise of some, the Vatican Museums do not just display frescoes of saints and statues of Christ; they also house an enormous collection of religious and ceremonial objects from Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania.
June 16, 2006
Sex, marriage: Pope discusses love, Vatican official discusses sin
The difference in tone between Pope Benedict's June discourse on married love and an aide's subsequent document on modern sins against the family did not go unnoticed.
June 9, 2006
Six popes later, Vatican security chief turns in his jogging shoes
Camillo Cibin holds the world record for miles jogged alongside a moving popemobile. But he made his last run around St. Peter's Square May 31.
June 2, 2006
Ecumenical plate-spinner: Cardinal coordinates dozens of dialogues
Ecumenism is a work in progress, which explains why Cardinal Walter Kasper's days are never dull.
May 26, 2006
Survival tips for religious orders: Get newcomers, keep members
While the numbers game is certainly a concern for religious orders struggling to keep their convents, monasteries, schools and other institutions staffed and afloat, Pope Benedict XVI and some superiors general say the real concern is quality when it comes to religious life.
May 19, 2006
Legislating conversions: Weighing the message vs. the person
While Vatican officials have expressed concern about the lack of religious freedom in some countries, they are also concerned about how some religious groups abuse liberties by evangelizing in aggressive or deceptive ways.
May 12, 2006
Vatican weighs in on U.S. reaction toward Iranian, Palestinian issues
Two topics looming large in the world arena -- the Hamas-led Palestinian government and Iran's nuclear program -- are drawing close attention these days from the Vatican's foreign policy experts.
May 5, 2006
The numbers game: Stats give picture of Pope John Paul's pontificate
Statistics released recently by the Vatican complete a by-the-numbers portrait of Pope John Paul II's pontificate, covering the period from 1978, the year of his election, through the end of 2004, three months before he died.
April 28, 2006
Sense of urgency: Pope Pius XII supporters await progress on cause
With the 50th anniversary of the death of Pope Pius XII coming up in two years, supporters of his sainthood cause are growing a little impatient.
April 21, 2006
St. Peter's Basilica: 500 years represent masterpiece of art, faith
1506 was a big year for the Vatican: The Swiss Guard was formed, the Vatican Museums were founded and the first stone was laid for the new Basilica of St. Peter.
April 11, 2006
Way of the Cross: Simple service at Colosseum has global reach
In the shadows of Rome's torch-lit Colosseum April 14, Pope Benedict XVI will lead the first Way of the Cross service of his pontificate.
April 7, 2006
At Vatican Museums, a new way of looking at old things
The problem with being a 500-year-old museum is that the science of collecting and displaying pieces has changed dramatically.
March 31, 2006
The Way of Beauty: Can it lead people to God?
More than 40 cardinals, bishops, religious and lay experts in culture revisited the perennial questions surrounding the nature of beauty at a Vatican conference.
March 24, 2006
In Rome, media finds Boston cardinal wields wicked sense of humor
Always looking for the big scoop, television and print media made a surprising discovery when they covered Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley receiving his red hat in a March 24 consistory at the Vatican.
March 17, 2006
Impatient patient: Doctor says JPII often wanted to put off treatment
As a medical patient, Pope John Paul II was cooperative, insisted on being fully informed, but very often put off treatment if there was a chance it would take him away from his pastoral commitments.
March 10, 2006
Clear the calendar: For pope, everything stops for Lenten retreat
For 51 weeks each year, the pope preaches, teaches, meets and writes -- even when on vacation. But during the first full week of Lent, he clears his schedule and goes on retreat.
March 3, 2006
Pope Pius XI saw (radio) wave of the future
With Christ, the word was made flesh; with Vatican Radio, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the pope's words were made trans-Atlantic and truly universal.
Feb. 23, 2006
Cardinal trends: Pope's picks boost Asian, U.S., European presence
Pope Benedict XVI's first group of cardinal appointments sent signals about the direction and priorities of his papacy.
Feb. 16, 2006
New cardinals? Rome buzzes with excitement as rumors fly
Sometime this year -- perhaps as early as March -- Pope Benedict XVI is expected to create his first batch of cardinals, a prospect that has already generated a buzz of excitement in Rome.
Feb. 10, 2006
Turkish troubles: Vatican works to reinforce Christian-Muslim harmony
The killing of an Italian missionary priest has raised fears that Turkey, long one of the more moderate Muslim countries, could become a new home for Islamic fanaticism.
Feb. 3, 2006
Chair of St. Peter: Bishop's teaching seat, not king's throne
The 110 wax candles used once a year to light up a sculpture behind the main altar in St. Peter's Basilica have led some people to think the Vatican really has a feast day for a chair.
Jan. 27, 2006
Pope's first encyclical underlines 'back to basics' theme of papacy
Instead of fine-tuning the church's rules and precepts, the pope is working on the foundations. Telling people that God loves them is step one. Asking people to consider the implications of that love in their own lives is step two.
Jan. 20, 2006
God is love: Simple papal message reflects basics of faith
Even before the release of Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical in late January, it was clear that the theme -- "God is love" -- reflected an emerging focus of his papacy's first year.
Jan. 13, 2006
To-do lists, pay stubs: Archive details St. Peter's construction
For every sack of cement that was purchased, for every block of stone quarried and hauled to Rome, architects in charge of building St. Peter's Basilica 500 years ago filled out and filed away receipts and penned detailed notations in thick, bound ledgers.
Jan. 6, 2006
No place like home: Papal apartment gets extreme makeover
When he was elected last April, Pope Benedict XVI inherited the papal apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace, but it wasn't until Christmas that the pope could really call it home.
Dec. 22, 2005
Year-end wrap-up: Pope reflects on a historic 2005
In a personal look at the year in review, Pope Benedict XVI barely mentioned his own election -- a demonstration of the humility he has shown from the beginning of his pontificate.
Dec. 16, 2005
Diplomats try to decode hints from pope's World Peace Day message
Pope Benedict XVI released his first World Peace Day message in December, and members of the diplomatic corps promptly began parsing the text for policy hints and directions under the new pope.
Dec. 9, 2005
Media empire: Vatican moves from pen and parchment to DVDs, Web
Popes used to communicate by pen and parchment, but today, Pope Benedict XVI's teachings and speeches are flashed around the world in real time on the Internet, and he is the star of the Vatican's own Web site.
Dec. 2, 2005
Closing the doors of limbo: Theologians say it was hypothesis
An international group of Vatican-appointed theologians is about to recommend that the Catholic Church close the doors of limbo forever.
Nov. 23, 2005
Benedict's papacy: Running on all cylinders, but still gearing up
Seven months after the pope's election, the Vatican was humming with internal policy meetings, public conferences, document preparation and liturgical celebrations.
Nov. 18, 2005
Papal premiere: Yet another pope movie gets Vatican screening
It isn't every day that a pope gets to watch himself in a supporting role in a major movie. Pope Benedict XVI did, and his character even prompted the biggest applause line at the world premiere screening of "John Paul II."
Nov. 11, 2005
Designer God? Vatican experts debate fine points of evolution
The intelligent design debate visited the Vatican in November, provoking some inflated newspaper headlines and a bit of theological fine-tuning by Pope Benedict XVI.
Nov. 04, 2005
Do space aliens have souls? Inquiring minds can check Jesuit's book
Galaxy-gazing scientists surely wonder about what kind of impact finding life or intelligent beings on another planet would have on the world. But what sort of effect would it have on Catholic beliefs?
Oct. 28, 2005
Rigor mortis? At synod, bishops give lip service to Latin
Latin limped through another synod in October, as bishops paid lip service to the assembly's official language but did their real communicating in the vernacular.
Oct. 21, 2005
Now what? As synod ends, will pope be 'all write' with propositions?
The Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist gave Pope Benedict XVI something he's probably not eager to receive: the raw material for a new document. He said bluntly in mid-October that writing more documents was not the mission of his pontificate.
Oct. 14, 2005
Rising stars: Synod a good spot to watch ecclesial careers
Traditionally, the Synod of Bishops has been a good place to watch ecclesial careers on the rise. The church's future all-stars are often found in the lineup of top synod positions and among the small number of papal appointees to the assembly.
Oct. 07, 2005
Deja vu: First week of synod follows patterns from past
The first week of this fall's Synod of Bishops followed a long-standing tradition: Bishops from all over the world gave speeches all over the map, while the media focused on a few hot-button issues.
Sept. 30, 2005
Quiet as a tomb no more: Vatican hopes crowds visit sarcophagi museum
A Vatican Museums gallery housing mammoth, carved marble sarcophagi depicting scenes from the Bible is hoping to come back to life.
Sept. 23, 2005
Seamless web: providing papal security with reasonable public access
Vatican and Italian security forces provide "impeccable security for a person who wants to be open and near the people," one Italian state police official said about the effort to protect Pope Benedict XVI.
Sept. 16, 2005
Church and politics: Throughout the world, variations on a theme
The theme of church and politics was a big part of last year's U.S. presidential election campaign, but a recent look around the globe shows the United States holds no monopoly on the issue.
Sept. 9, 2005
What's the buzz? At Vatican, officials wait for curial changes
When Pope Benedict XVI returns to the Vatican at the end of September, he'll find his "in" basket full and the rumor mill humming.
Sept. 2, 2005
Help wanted: Britain's search for Vatican envoy causes minor ruckus
The British government caused a stir this summer when it put out a "want ad" in some major newspapers looking for "a high caliber individual" to fill a vacancy at its Embassy to the Vatican.
Aug. 26, 2005
Shared Communion: Brother Roger's death spotlights perennial issue
The death of Brother Roger Schutz prompted an outpouring of sympathy on the part of many Catholics and expressions of ecumenical appreciation from Vatican officials, but it also highlighted a perennial and neuralgic issue in ecumenical dialogue: the Catholic Church's rules against shared Communion.
Aug. 19, 2005
Move over James Dean: Some holy heroes are rebels with a cause
Pope Benedict XVI is continuing the challenge his predecessor posed to young people across the world -- that they should not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium.
Aug. 12, 2005
Pontificating with priests: Marx, vocations and papal infallibility
As he showed during his summer vacation, Pope Benedict XVI likes to talk, especially when he knows his audience is on the same wavelength and receptive to the nuances of his thinking.
Aug. 5, 2005
Lay movements have an old friend in new pope
One of the first meetings Pope Benedict has convoked on his own initiative -- rather than confirming a gathering originally planned under his predecessor -- is a Pentecost 2006 encounter with lay-movement representatives.
July 29, 2005
Reading the signs: Archbishop Romero's backers are smiling in Rome
In a city where small signs often are read as serious signals, supporters of the canonization of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar A. Romero were smiling this summer as his sainthood cause looked ready to advance.
July 22, 2005
Long lines, short prayers await visitors to Pope John Paul II's tomb
More than three months after the pope's April 2 death, the Vatican is still running a separate line just for visitors to his tomb.
July 15, 2005
Pilgrimage on wheels: Hop on, hop off to see Rome's Christian sites
The Vatican and the city of Rome have joined forces to showcase Rome's Christian heritage by offering a bus dedicated to visiting some of the city's major spiritual sites.
July 8, 2005
Fine-tuning synod: New procedures, but bishops won't make decisions
Most bishops around the world agree that something has to be done with the Synod of Bishops. But those hoping the synod would become a decision-making body rather than an occasion for offering advice to the pope may be disappointed.
July 1, 2005
Artwork in new catechism selected for one reason: to transmit faith
Pope Benedict XVI believes classical works of Christian art can educate people in the faith and lead them to deeper prayer just as the images did hundreds of years ago. When he released the "Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church" June 28, he said the 14 works of art in the book were not meant to be decorative but to illustrate its doctrinal content.
June 24, 2005
No glory for little-known Vatican agency that funds Eastern churches
The Vatican agency that coordinates funding to Eastern Catholic churches is much like the backstage manager of a big Broadway show: far from the limelight.
June 17, 2005
Vatican hopes defeat of Italian referendum isn't pyrrhic victory
The defeat of an Italian referendum on artificial procreation went into the church's win column, but Vatican officials realize it was a small victory on an ever-widening battlefield.
June 10, 2005
Not many sound bites: New pope's discourses defy simplistic headlines
As one veteran reporter recently lamented, Pope Benedict XVI is hard to write about because short citations don't do justice to his complex arguments.
June 3, 2005
Treasure hunt: Queues of collectors seek first Pope Benedict stamps
When exclusive sets of stamps marking the start of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy went on sale, two lines of collectors snaked underneath the colonnade heading for two tiny Vatican post offices.
May 27, 2005
Church gambles in call to boycott Italian reproduction referendum
The church in Italy has taken a big gamble by calling on Catholics to boycott a June 12-13 referendum that would repeal certain restrictions on artificial reproduction and embryonic research.
May 20, 2005
In first month, Benedict places distinctive mark on papacy
He began under the sign of continuity, but in his first month Pope Benedict XVI has already placed his own distinctive mark on the papacy.
May 13, 2005
For Anglican-Catholic unity, new pope offers mix of hope, concerns
With the election of Pope Benedict XVI, new questions arose about the future of Anglican-Roman Catholic efforts to promote unity, mainly based on statements he had made in his role as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
May 6, 2005
Papal priorities: Sainthood causes getting a new look at the Vatican
Whether the Catholic Church and the pope himself should be proclaiming so many men and women blessed or saint appears to be an area where Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI would differ.
April 29, 2005
Pope hopes to make Christ's light shine, but spotlight's on him
Pope Benedict XVI began his papacy by declaring that his task was to make shine not his own light, "but that of Christ," but cheering crowds, a curious press and excited church officials have kept the spotlight on the 265th pontiff.
April 22, 2005
Memorabilia -- tasteful to tacky -- fill souvenir shops near Vatican
Dozens of souvenir shops around the Vatican, most of them still brimming with merchandise plastered with Pope John Paul II's face, were gearing up as well for Pope Benedict XVI.
April 15, 2005
Conclave countdown: In information vacuum, no shortage of scenarios
With cardinals, for the most part, maintaining a blackout on interviews with the press, leaks and rumors filled the news vacuum before the conclave began.
April 8, 2005
Pope shared special relationship with reporters -- and they with him
For those journalists who have followed this pontificate from start to finish, the world suddenly seems a dimmer place.
April 1, 2005
As pope falls silent, other Vatican officials give their views
Attentive listeners during Holy Week found that the cardinal stand-ins for the ailing pope were not just relaying papal messages, but were pronouncing their own strong views on social and ecclesial issues.
March 24, 2005
For ailing pope, a picture is worth a thousand words, Jesuit says
While the pope's tendency toward silence after undergoing a tracheotomy Feb. 24 has been a blow to Vatican Radio, Pope John Paul has not hidden from the Vatican television cameras, said Father Federico Lombardi.
March 18, 2005
Moms' moral dilemma: When preserving life may mean death
Some Catholic women may have felt they were prescribed a hard pill to swallow when the Vatican openly praised an Italian woman who refused cancer treatment so she could carry her weeks-old embryo to term, but theologians say pregnant women always have the right to undergo treatment.
March 11, 2005
With formality or familiarity, tens of thousands e-mail pope
People are offering prayers for the pope's health, expressing hope that he would be released soon from the hospital, but also asking to be remembered in his prayers.
March 4, 2005
Sacred sleuth: Archeologist believes he has found St. Paul's tomb
A Vatican archeologist believes he has rediscovered the tomb of St. Paul, buried deep beneath the main altar of the Rome basilica dedicated to the apostle.
Feb. 24, 2005
Papal hospitalization: a case study in openness for Vatican officials
In a week that saw the release of a papal apostolic letter pledging the church's commitment to openness with the media, very little information was provided to the press or the public when the pope was readmitted to the hospital.
Feb. 18, 2005
Secrets, superstitions, sainthood: Cardinal talks of Sister Lucia
When Carmelite Sister Lucia dos Santos -- the last of three Fatima visionaries -- was buried in mid-February, a surprising number of people believed still-secret secrets of Fatima were buried with her.
Feb. 11, 2005
Less is more: For many, pope is still leading, but in a different way
Pope John Paul II's 10-day hospitalization for breathing problems has raised new questions about the ability of a pope to govern from a sick bed as well as his own recent focus on the special forms of Christian witness offered by the sick and the elderly.
Feb. 2, 2005
For Pittsburgh newlyweds, a series of unfortunate events
The pope's Feb. 1 hospitalization and the cancellation of his Feb. 2 weekly general audience were particular blows for Americans Valerie Pajak and Gus Glyptis.
Jan. 28, 2005
Reviewing the abuse norms: U.S.-Vatican talks expected to be positive
Two years after adopting special norms for dealing with priestly sex abusers, U.S. bishops and Vatican officials are sitting down in early February to review how the new policies have worked and to consider possible revisions.
Jan. 21, 2005
Despite reassurances, minority Christians in Iraq are afraid
Each time a church in Iraq is attacked or a religious figure is threatened or kidnapped, most church leaders there quickly explain that the incident does not signal an assault against Christianity. Still, Christians there are afraid.
Jan. 14, 2005
Police predicament: Teens, not terrorists, are biggest threat to pope
For the Italian police who help ensure the security of Pope John Paul II, overly enthusiastic teens are more of a real threat than terrorism.
Jan. 7, 2005
International Scrooges? Some feel wealthy countries too miserly
Some church leaders agree with a high-ranking U.N. official, who said the world's wealthiest countries penny-pinch when it comes to funding poor countries.
Dec. 30, 2004
"Angels and Demons" tour: a novel approach to Rome
The day is fast approaching when tourists circling Rome might be seen with their noses stuck between the pages of a Dan Brown novel rather than a Fodor's guide.
Dec. 22, 2004
In looking back, pope says he hopes future leads to Christian unity
As Pope John Paul II looked back at 2004, important ecumenical events seemed not to satisfy him but to sharpen his desire to lead the way to unity among Christians.
Dec. 17, 2004
In Italy, it's been a rough year for the baby Jesus
The new trend toward hiding some of the religious manifestations of Christmas is upsetting Italian church leaders and some Vatican officials.
Dec. 10, 2004
In consultations with U.S. bishops, pope emphasizes healing, holiness
In a series of "ad limina" talks this year, Pope John Paul II has encouraged U.S. bishops to regroup pastorally after the sex abuse scandal and recover their prophetic voice on moral and social issues.
Dec. 3, 2004
Immaculate Conception: Church marks anniversary of difficult dogma
Some Vatican officials say that while Marian devotion remains strong in the church, the Immaculate Conception is a complex concept that has interested theologians more than the ordinary faithful.
Nov. 24, 2004
Changes, challenges: African church blueprint is work in progress
It came as a bit of a surprise when the pope announced that he was calling a new African synod of bishops to deal with new pastoral and social challenges on the continent.
Nov. 19, 2004
Vatican exhibit shows art of ancient world not all black and white
A Vatican Museums exhibit will probably shock as many viewers as it pleases.
Nov. 11, 2004
Moral support: Despite criticism, pope met with Arafat 12 times
Pope John Paul II considered Yasser Arafat the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people and thought his long struggle for a Palestinian homeland merited moral support.
Nov. 5, 2004
Pope's 'electoral college' has moral values, no exit polls
Non-Americans at the Vatican are often perplexed by the U.S. electoral system. But whenever the next papal conclave is held, the shoe will be on the other foot: Church leaders will be called on to explain one of the oldest and most arcane systems of voting in the world.
Oct. 29, 2004
Compendium of social doctrine: It's a compass, not a catechism
The new "Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church" is meant to be a companion volume to help navigate the church's catechism, Vatican officials said.
Oct. 22, 2004
Papal primacy: Land mine on the path to Catholic-Orthodox unity?
At the invitation of Pope John Paul II, Catholic and Orthodox scholars -- officially representing their churches -- rolled up their sleeves and started to tackle the historically explosive question of the Petrine ministry and how it is exercised in the modern church.
Oct. 15, 2004
Political priorities: In Catholic Italy, abortion is not an issue
When Italy's most politically active Catholics met in early October, Pope John Paul II sent them a message urging greater church influence on such issues as the family, the media, economic justice and globalization, but he did not mention abortion.
Oct. 8, 2004
'Memory and Identity': In new book, pope looks back at 20th century
As the 84-year-old pontiff's verbal powers of communication have shrunk, his written production seems to be increasing.
Oct. 1, 2004
For papal eyes only: Vatican to restore frescoes in Pauline Chapel
Just 10 years after the monumental makeover of the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican's art historians, chemists and technicians are dragging out their notes, tools and scaffolding once again to restore another set of Michelangelo's masterpieces -- his last major frescoes.
Sept. 24, 2004
Creative tension: omnipotence of God vs. dynamism of a universe
A recent Vatican document analyzed evolution in the light of faith, stepping into an area that has long been a religious and scientific minefield.
Sept. 17, 2004
Vatican dismay: Memo on politicians touches nerve in U.S. campaign
When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger sent out a brief memo in June about politicians and Communion, he probably never imagined it would ignite a heated discussion about Catholics and voting.
Sept. 10, 2004
Back to basics: Pope begins renewed focus on Eucharist
After an intense quarter-century of teaching, writing and traveling, Pope John Paul II is going back to the basics with a renewed focus on the Eucharist.
Sept. 3, 2004
Not on the radar: No one at Vatican asks about Bush, Kerry
With a tight race for the White House under way, U.S. bishops visiting the Vatican found it a bit strange than no one asked them for their opinions on who the next president will be.
Aug. 25, 2004
U.S. Catholics hoped Kazan icon would get to Russia
For Americans who had a hand in geting the icon of the Mother of God of Kazan back to Russia, its transfer was a prayer answered and a dream denied.
Aug. 20, 2004
From Canterbury to Rome: Pilgrims rediscover ancient Francigena Way
Most of the ancient roads to Rome have become busy thoroughfares or superhighways swarming with speeding Fiats and Alfa Romeos. But one route still remains largely unspoiled by today's traffic, instead dotted by an occasional cow or a moped.
Aug. 13, 2004
Blackouts to vaccinations: Book records year's activities at Vatican
The "inside story" about the Vatican and its operations is reported, bound and put on sale each summer in the "Attivita della Santa Sede" ("The Activity of the Holy See").
Aug. 6, 2004
New Vatican office aims to promote culture of sport
With little fanfare, the head of the Vatican's new office dedicated to "Church and Sport" is off and running.
July 30, 2004
Hammers and security radios: At St. Peter's, workers must multitask
St. Peter's Basilica may be one of the few places in the world where a man aspiring to a position as a carpenter has a better chance of being hired if he can speak more than one language.
July 23, 2004
Is blue blood bad for holiness? Monarchs rarely make the cut
Even with Pope John Paul II's record number of canonizations and beatifications, one category of Catholics has been represented rarely in the past 400 years: monarchs
July 16, 2004
Vatican conference underscores universal issues of tourism industry
While Pope John Paul II was vacationing in the Italian Alps and long lines of tourists were waiting to clear security to get into St. Peter's Basilica, a Vatican office held an international meeting on tourism.
July 9, 2004
As some U.S. dioceses face financial crisis, Vatican has own problems
The Vatican is highly unlikely to start selling its paintings or statues in order to rescue a diocese from financial ruin.
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