Source: The Economist: THE election of Pope Francis on March 13th was surprising for several reasons. He is the first pope from South America, making him the first non-European since the 8th century. He is also the only pope to take the name Francis—evoking the humility of St Francis of […]
Source: The Economist: ON THE eve of his first Easter Sunday celebration as bishop of Rome, Pope Francis sprang another of his teasing little surprises. As the Shroud of Turin, which is probably the Christian world’s most hotly contested holy relic, was given a rare showing on television, he issued […]
Source: The Economist: PITY the pontiff. Not only does he face the urgent task of sorting out sordid power struggles in the heart of the Vatican; in the wider world of Catholicism, rival political camps are eagerly looking forward to his first pronouncements on social and economic questions. On the […]
Source: TOI VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has won over many hearts and minds with his simple style and focus on serving the world’s poorest, but he has devastated traditionalist Catholics who adored his predecessor, Benedict XVI, for restoring much of the traditional pomp to the papacy. Francis’ decision to disregard […]
Source: Washington Post: ROME — The Vatican vigorously defended Pope Francis on Friday by seeking to discredit accusations that he failed to oppose and may even have collaborated with Argentina’s feared military junta during the so-called “dirty war” against left-wing activists. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, departed from […]
Source: CNN According to veteran Vatican journalist Marco Politi, the initial traction in the papal vote was not for then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. “From the first leaks we understand that there was a strong candidate,” Politi told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday. “The Italian Archbishop of Milan, Scola, who entered […]
Source: CNN and BBC Epigraph: “Say, ‘O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you — that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for Lords beside Allah.’ But if they turn […]
Source: CNN Details:
Source: CNN Members of the public waited in long lines Tuesday morning to join the Mass, which was open to all. As the service began, the morning’s brilliant sunshine came to an abrupt end, with the skies letting loose thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour. Applause echoed round St. Peter’s […]
Source: CNN Technically, any Roman Catholic male can be elected pope. But since 1379, every pope has been selected from the College of Cardinals, the group casting the votes at the conclave. Many of the cardinals are bishops and archbishops appointed by the pope to assist in religious issues. Some […]
Source: NY Times: The cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church announced on Friday that the conclave to elect the next pope would begin on Tuesday.The transition was set in motion on Feb. 28 by the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. More:
Source: The Local A German cardinal on Thursday said the upcoming papal conclave to pick the next head of the Catholic Church would be as pleasant as a visit to the dentist. More:
Source: CNN Rome (CNN) — A group representing survivors of sexual abuse by priests on Wednesday named a “Dirty Dozen” list of cardinals it said would be the worst candidates for pope based on their handling of child sex abuse claims. Their presence on the list is based “on their […]
Source: The Local: Berlin’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese has condemned a German charlatan for masquerading as a bishop and sneaking into the Vatican to fraternize with cardinals as they prepare to choose a new pope. More:
By ALEX ALVAREZ (@soalexgoes) While the U.S. has deemed it illegal to place bets on who will become the next pope — the selection process is considered an election — […]
Eric J. Lyman, Special for USA TODAY At 8 p.m. sharp local time (2 p.m. ET), Benedict will become the first pontiff in 600 years to retire. VATICAN CITY — […]
Source: Jakarta Globe: Pope Benedict XVI waves from the altar during his last weekly audience at St Peter’s Square on Feb. 27, 2013. (AFP Photo) Vatican City. Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday admitted “stormy waters” during his pontificate as he held his last audience in St Peter’s Square before tens […]
Source: CNN Pope Benedict XVI waves in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican in December 2012. Benedict, 85, announced on Monday, February 11, that he will resign at the end of February “because of advanced age.” The last pope to resign was Gregory XII in 1415. Rome (CNN) — With […]
Source: The Economist: THE details will be wearily familiar to any observer of the abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic church in recent decades. Priests accused of horrific crimes are treated by their superiors as victims, while the children who suffered at their hands are seen as administrative headaches […]
Source: TOI The drumbeat of scandal has reached such a fever pitch that the Vatican secretariat of state issued a rare pointed rebuke on February 23, 2013. (AFP photo) VATICAN CITY: As cardinals from around the world begin arriving in Rome for a conclave to elect a successor to Pope […]