Photo Caption: Cardinals from around the world enter the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel March 12 as they begin the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. By: By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Despite the rain, thousands of people filled St. Peter’s Square after dark March 12, the first evening […]
Continue readingVATICAN CITY (CNS) — Centuries ago, prior to mass media, popes and the conclaves to elect them did not have the worldwide attention they do now, a historian told reporters. Jesuit Father Norman Tanner, dean of church history at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, told reporters March 11 that the papal candidates from all over the […]
Continue readingVATICAN CITY (CNS) — The College of Cardinals thanked retired Pope Benedict XVI for his “tireless work” and example of “generous pastoral concern.” Meeting during the second day of pre-conclave gatherings at the Vatican, the 148 cardinals present sent a telegram to the former pope, who moved to the papal villa of Caste Gandolfo the […]
Continue reading
Photo Caption: Pope Benedict XVI greets Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan during a private audience at the Vatican Feb. 16. By: By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI is considering making some changes to the conclave rules and rituals before he leaves office Feb. 28, the Vatican spokesman […]
Continue readingVATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Pope Benedict XVI officially leaves office at 8 p.m. Feb. 28, most of the top-level Vatican officials lose their jobs, but that does not mean the majority of Vatican employees get a vacation. Although Catholics inside and outside the Vatican love to complain about its unwieldy bureaucracy, coordinating the universal […]
Continue reading
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — One task facing the College of Cardinals already has been completed: A job description for the Catholic Church’s chief evangelizer already is written. He must be humble, but firmly grounded in church teaching; joyful and enthusiastic; willing to listen to and dialogue with others; and courageous in defending human rights, including […]
Continue reading
Photo Caption: Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, faulted the proposed rules for maintaining an “inaccurate distinction among religious ministries.” By: By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The new proposed rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding insurance coverage of contraceptives show movement […]
Continue readingWASHINGTON (CNS) — At the opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston focused on the direction in which he believes the pro-life movement should be headed. The chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities called upon Catholics to work to change society’s negative […]
Continue readingROME (CNS) — Christians must work together to offer the faith they share to a world that seems to find it more and more difficult to believe, Pope Benedict XVI told Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant leaders. “Unity is in itself a privileged means — almost a requirement — for proclaiming the faith in an […]
Continue reading
Photo Caption: March for Life participants make their way up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building Jan. 25. By: By Carol Zimmerman, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The tens of thousands of participants at the annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 25 demonstrated just how determined they are not only by showing […]
Continue reading
