‘The former chief rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff, believes that Pope John Paul II ushered in a new era in Jewish-Christian relations.
In a May 10 interview with Vatican Radio, Rabbi Toaff said that in the past, “great misunderstandings” marred relations between Christians and Jews. “But today, I can say, that is almost completely in the […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI is sounding out top Vatican cardinals on filling his old job as the chief guardian of the Vatican’s conservative doctrine and one of the candidates is San Francisco’s archbishop, but no decision has been made, a Vatican official said Wednesday.
Time magazine reported Tuesday that Benedict already had asked Archbishop William Levada of […]
‘JOSEPH Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI last month, has another new title: best selling author, his US publisher said today.
“It’s just amazing the interest in the Pope’s writings,” said Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press, which has the US rights to Benedict’s writings.
“We’re reprinted over 300,000 copies of his books and we’ve sold out […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Monsignor David Foley, the bishop of Birmingham, Ala., the Vatican said Tuesday.
Following church rule, Foley had submitted his resignation in February when he turned 75, but had to wait until it was officially approved.’
Read more at AP Wire | 05/10/2005 | Benedict accepts bishop’s resignation
‘The only car Pope John Paul II was believed to have owned is up for auction again, and this time the seller expects it to fetch $1.5 million to $5 million.
The light blue 1975 Ford Escort GL was bought at auction in Auburn in 1996 for $102,000 by Illinois businessman Jim Rich, who is selling […]
‘A six-year-old Volkswagen Golf that purportedly once belonged to Pope Benedict XVI has fetched $244 600 (about R1,6-million) in an auction on eBay’s German site.
EBay spokesperson Daphne Rauch said the new owner of the grey hatchback was the Golden Palace casino in Austin, Texas.
The seller was Benjamin Halbe, 21, from the western German town of […]
‘Pope Benedict today flew by helicopter to the papal summer home at Castel Gandolfo, the sprawling retreat about 14 miles southeast of Rome.
The chopper landed on a private pad, and the pope then got into a car for the short drive to the palace entrance for his three-hour inspection.’
Read more at Pope inspects papal […]
‘The Vatican official in charge of sainthood says Pope John Paul II was a “model of holiness.”
But Cardinal Jose Martins said it’s up to Pope Benedict XVI to decide whether to speed up canonization procedures for the late pontiff.
Martins told reporters that only the pope can lift the mandatory five-year-waiting period after a candidate’s death […]
‘Of all the athlete trading cards on the U.S. market today, the most valuable is not that of baseball great Barry Bonds or basketball star Shaquille O’Neal but noted skier and outdoorsman Karol Wojtyla — the late Pope John Paul II.
Beckett Media, whose pricing guides are the acknowledged arbiters of value for collectible trading cards, […]
‘Thousands of people queued on Thursday to buy the Vatican’s last series of euro-denominated coins bearing the image of Pope John Paul, ordered before his death and already soaring in value.
Some brought sleeping bags and camped on the streets near the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls to snap up the eight-coin […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI marked the passing of a month since John Paul II’s death Monday at a Mass in his private chapel, the Vatican said, a day after he blessed some 50,000 people in his first appearance at his Vatican window as head of the Roman Catholic church.
Later Monday, Benedict will pray at John Paul’s […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI is to receive the Italian president today in the first formal audience for a head of state since he was elected to the pontificate.
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi was expected at the Vatican at around 1000 BST.
The Pope briefly greeted Ciampi and hundreds of other dignitaries who had attended his installation Mass in […]
‘The selection of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new pope (Benedict XVI) is “bad news” for civil liberties and the rights of women, gays, intellectuals and other secularists throughout the world, warned an Atheist civil rights watchdog group today.
Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, noted that the new pontiff demonized atheism, individualism and other alleged […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI, embracing a cherished habit of his predecessor, appeared at his apartment’s window on St. Peter’s Square Sunday for the first time in his papacy to bless tens of thousands of faithful and curious.
Looking vigorous and confident, Benedict cut a figure sharply contrasting with John Paul’s last time at the studio window on […]