by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – 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. He also recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of an Italian martyr who, with an estimated 800 other people, died at […]
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope’s First Tweet Bestows a Blessing
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI launched his very own Twitter account, sending a short inaugural message to his more than 1 million followers. “Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart,” […]
Jesus: New Temple of Humanity
by Father Robert Lauder Fourth in a series Reading Pope Benedict’s book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2011, pp. 362), provides an education for me in several areas, not only in the theology of the Old Testament and the theology of the […]
Pope Sends Congratulations To Obama
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – 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. The Vatican did not make public the full text of the pope’s telegram to Obama, which was sent via […]
Rochester Bishop Retires
Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop Matthew H. Clark, 75, of Rochester, and named Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, 69, of Syracuse, as apostolic administrator of the Rochester Diocese until a successor to Bishop Clark is named and installed. Bishop Clark celebrated 33 years as Rochester’s bishop and the 50th anniversary of his priestly […]
In Germany, If You Stop Paying Church Tax, Stop Receiving the Sacraments
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) – The German bishops’ conference defended a controversial decree that said Catholics who stop paying a church membership tax cannot receive sacraments. “There must be consequences for people who distance themselves from the church by a public act,” said Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg, conference president, in defending the Sept. 20 decree. […]
The Year of Faith
Oct. 11 is a day worth noting on your calendar. Not only is it the first day of the “Year of Faith” announced exactly one year prior to that date by Pope Benedict XVI; it also marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) and the 20th anniversary of […]
Set Apart by Our Faith
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into His Church. So writes Pope Benedict XVI, in his Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei, announcing the Year of Faith, which will open on the […]
Pope’s Lebanon Visit Sparks Local Interest
As Lebanon welcomes Pope Benedict XVI this weekend, the international community will be watching and listening carefully to the message he brings to the Church in the Middle East. Sons and daughters of Lebanon, at home and abroad, have been eagerly anticipating Pope Benedict XVI’s visit, the primary purpose of which is to sign and […]
Syria’s Problems Overshadow Pope’s Pastoral Trip to Lebanon
by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – When Pope Benedict XVI travels to Lebanon Sept. 14-16 — assuming spillover from the civil war in neighboring Syria doesn’t force a last-minute cancellation of the trip — his purpose will be above all pastoral, and, as usual for papal trips, most of his remarks will focus […]