Explainer – Who runs the Vatican while Pope is hospitalised?
Rome, ItalyAP The Vatican has detailed laws, rituals and roles to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns. But none of them apply when he is sick or even unconscious, and there are no specific norms governing what happens when a pope becomes incapacitated. As a result, even though Pope Francis […]
Revisiting colonisation: Catholic bishop of Syracuse decries Doctrine of Discovery, suggests Pope do the same
JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, speaks with US Catholic Bishop Douglas J Lucia about his hopes to meet with the Vatican to discuss a series of 15th-century papal proclamations used by European Christians to rationalise the subjugation of Indigenous peoples…
Pope’s wind-whipped mantle drives Vatican tailors to consider Velcro
Vatican CityRNS Countless pictures document the struggle: For decades, popes have suffered embarrassment and even frustration when their light, shoulder-length mantle, inspired by a sudden gust of wind, smacked them right in the face as they greeted world leaders or waved to crowds while cameras whirred. Pope Francis was not spared during his appearances on […]
Books: From the Vatican’s table to yours – new Christmas cookbook a culinary masterpiece
CLEMENTE LISI, in an article first published on Religion Unplugged, takes a hands-on approach to his review of ‘The Vatican Christmas Cookbook’…
Cardinal Pell says church needs rules on status of ex popes
Rome, ItalyReuters Cardinal George Pell, a leading Roman Catholic conservative, said the Vatican needs clear rules to govern the status of future popes who resign rather than rule for life and that such a move would help church unity. Pell is one of the highest-ranking church figures to speak publicly on the need for rules […]
Papal absence: In popes’ traditional summer retreat, locals move on without Francis
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, writing for Religion News Service, reports for Castel Gandolfo near Rome…
Essay: John Paul II centennial – six amazing facts about the pope’s life
CLEMENTE LISI, writing for Religion Unplugged, reflects on the life of St John Paul II…
New book by Pope Francis points to continuity with predecessor John Paul II
Vatican CityRNS While the newly elected Pope John Paul II stood before Catholic cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on the 16th October, 1978, half a world away in Argentina a middle-aged priest named Jorge Mario Bergoglio was following the election on the radio of his car. In that moment began a connection between the Polish […]
ESSAY: TWO POPES ARE ONE TOO MANY
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published on Religion News Service written amid controvery over Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s new book, suggests five rules for dealing with retired popes in future…