‘Thousands packed Saint Peter’s Basilica for Pope Benedict’s first midnight mass at the Vatican. Outside the church, in the square, many more braved the cold night air and watched the ceremony on giant screens.
Pope Benedict wore gold vestments and blessed the crowd as he walked up the central aisle of the church at the start […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI offered a Christmas prayer for peace in the Holy Land on Sunday and made a special mention of children, including the unborn, as he led his first midnight Mass in the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Benedict’s reference to the unborn in his homily was a clear reference to the Roman Catholic Church’s […]
‘He was not riding on a one-horse open sleigh, but when Pope Benedict arrived on the popemobile for his weekly audience in St Peter’s Square, on-lookers could have been forgiven for thinking Santa Claus was in town.
To keep warm against the bitter cold, the Pontiff wore a red velvet cap, trimmed with white fur which, […]
‘POPE John Paul I, who died from an apparent heart attack just 33 days after becoming pontiff in 1978, was assassinated over his plans to radically reform the Catholic Church, a novel to be published worldwide next year charges.
Portuguese author and television scriptwriter Luis Miguel Rocha, 29, said he based The Last Pope on documents […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday decried “bogged down” nuclear disarmament efforts and religious fanaticism as thwarting peace, while his top justice official denounced torture as an unacceptable, unnecessary way to fight terrorism.
In the Vatican’s annual review of conflicts in the world, Benedict warned that religious fundamentalism could “inspire and encourage terrorist thinking and activity.”‘
Read more […]
‘New information about communist surveillance of then-Cardinal Karol Wojtyla has revealed the future Pope John Paul II was watched more closely than previously believed. “How often he shaved, which radio he used, who cleaned his shoes – these were all of interest to the secret police,” said Marek Lasota, a researcher with Poland’s Institute for […]
‘Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) has appointed a Sri Lankan prelate as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
The appointment of Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don continues the Pope’s slow transformation of the Roman Curia. The Sri Lankan prelate also gives the Vatican a ranking official familiar with the lively debate on “inculturation” […]
‘A group of prominent Roman Catholic theologians and writers has revealed it is trying to stop the late pope John Paul II being declared a saint. In a document being circulated in Rome, they say the Vatican should take account of decisions reached by the Polish pontiff “that ought to be an obstacle to [his] […]
‘Pope Benedict discussed the Middle East peace process Saturday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who invited the pontiff to visit the Holy Land.
“You will be very welcome in Jerusalem and all the holy places,” Abbas, speaking English, told the Pope after their private 20-minute meeting in Benedict’s library.
“Thank you very much,” the Pope replied.
Abbas later […]
‘Rival US TV networks are serving up dramatised biographies of Pope John Paul II this week and even if one has him kissing a schoolgirl sweetheart in his teens, some critics say both make the great man seem dull.
The ABC film aired on yesterday and a CBS two-part mini-series starts on Sunday.
Reviewers say both skirt […]