At Benedict’s summer home, a town mourns its beloved visitor
Castel Gandolfo, Italy AP The shopkeeper named her daughter after him. The parish priest wears his old vestments. The former mayor dedicated a plaque to him on City Hall, and residents up and down this picturesque hilltop town reminisce about hearing him play the piano behind the palace walls on cool summer evenings. Pope Emeritus […]
Pope Benedict’s funeral to be similar to that of reigning popes
Vatican City Reuters Tens of thousands more people paid homage to former Pope Benedict on Tuesday on the second day his body lay in state, and the Vatican announced that his funeral will be similar to that of a reigning pope, including a three coffin burial. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who like Benedict, has […]
Papal passing: Benedict’s death paves way for protocols to guide future popes
NICOLE WINFIELD, of Associated Press, reports on the Vatican response to Pope Emeritus Benedict’s XVI’s death…
Retired Pope’s ailing health raises questions of what’s next
Rome, ItalyAP The Vatican has detailed rituals and procedures to follow when a pope dies, but it has not published such rules for a pope emeritus. As a result, official word Wednesday that the health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had worsened prompted questions about what happens if and when he dies. The answer is: There is […]
Pope in 2013 signed resignation letter in case of bad health
Rome, ItalyReuters Pope Francis revealed in a new interview published on Sunday that after he was elected in 2013 he signed a letter of resignation to be used if someday severe and permanent health problems made it impossible to carry out his duties. Francis, who turned 86 on Saturday and appears to be in good […]
Essay: Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne at a time of deep religious divisions and worked to bring tolerance
In an article first published on The Conversation, JOANNE M PIERCE, of the College of the Holy Cross in the US, says that in order to appreciate the significance of the Queen’s efforts at encouraging religious tolerance, we must first understand the complicated history of religion in the UK…
Catholic sainthood: “Crushed” by two papacies, John Paul I’s death eclipsed life
FRANCES D’EMILIO, of Associated Press, reports on moves to make Pope John Paul I a saint…
Pope visit to Italian city spotlights need for rules on ex-pontiffs
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis has quashed rumours that he plans to resign anytime soon but his planned visit next weekend to the Italian city of L’Aquila will underscore the Catholic Church’s need to regulate the status of pontiffs who step down instead of ruling for life. L’Aquila is the burial place of Celestine V, […]
Popes and presidents: A look back at the history of US presidential visits to the Vatican
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, looks at the history of meetings between popes and US presidents…
Essay: Caring for the environment has a long Catholic lineage – hundreds of years before Pope Francis
In an article first pubished on The Conversation, religious studies professor JOANNE M PIERCE, looks at the history of advocating for care of the Earth in the Catholic tradition…