Willi Graf was 25 years old when the Nazis gave him a choice: betray his friends in the anti-Hitler resistance or face death. The Catholic medical student chose silence — and now, more than 80 years after his execution, he is remembered as a hero.
Germany
Retired Pope Benedict XVI Has Full Support of Pope Francis, Aide Says
Pope Francis was among those showing their support for retired Pope Benedict XVI, sending his predecessor “a beautiful letter,” according to the former pope’s secretary.
Priests Join Emergency Response to Catastrophic Flooding in Germany
In Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, a particularly hard-hit area south of Bonn, one priest, Father Joerg Meyrer, helped in the emergency response. He told the German Catholic news agency KNA that the area was completely without fresh water and electricity.
April 29 Marks Day of Polish Clergy Martyrdom During World War II
April 29 marks the day Polish Catholics solemnly remember when nearly 2,000 of the country’s 10,000 diocesan priests perished during the Nazi German occupation in World War II. The day coincides with the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp in Dachau, Germany.
Critics Charge German ‘Synodal Path’ Exploits Suffering of Abuse Victims
As what’s come to be called the German “Synodal Path” begins forwarding its mid-term conclusions to Rome, many lay activists and bishops are describing the process as an historic and inspiring moment, a potential springtime of sweeping reform and renewal in Catholic life.
German Bishops Say Talks With Rome on Parish Document Must Include Laity
The German Catholic news agency KNA reported the bishops said they want lay Catholics to be involved in the discussion. The bishops’ conference made the announcement after a meeting of its 27-member Permanent Council.
Was His Quick Trip to Germany Pope Benedict’s Last Cameo?
Joseph Ratzinger, better known as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, now at the ripe age of 93, is scheduled to return to Rome this morning after a quick trip to Regensburg to visit his ailing 96-year-old brother – a trip which, given his increasing frailty and desire to keep a low profile, has been described by many observers as his last ‘cameo’.
Retired Pope Travels to Germany to Visit His Brother
Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who is 93 years old, traveled to Germany to visit his ailing older brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, who is 96.
Women Played an Intriguing Role in Catholic Revival in Germany, Author Says
In his book, “Disruptive Power: Catholic Women, Miracles, and Politics in Modern Germany, 1918-1965,” Marist College professor Michael O’Sullivan explores the revival of Catholic faith in Germany from 1920-1960, fueled in large part by Marian devotion.
Father Alessandro Linardi
Father Alessandro Linardi, 35, began his worldly travels in childhood, but the Holy Land captured his heart so profoundly that he gave himself completely to the One Who called him there.