By Josephine McKenna VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis leaves on Friday (Nov. 28) for a three-day visit to Turkey and, given the issues on his plate and the troubles in the neighborhood, it is expected to be his most challenging and potentially most dangerous trip yet. There are so few Christians — around 120,000 — […]
Pope Benedict XVI departs Vatican
Pope Benedict XVI left Vatican City Thursday for the last time as leader of the billion-member Roman Catholic Church, and he headed by helicopter to his summer residence where he is due to spend the last hours of his pontificate before stepping down.
Pope resigned after reports of blackmail, gay sex and corruption at the Vatican
The Italian media is reporting that Pope Benedict XVI resigned after receiving the results of an internal investigation, delivered in a 300-page, two-volume dossier, that laid bare a sordid tale of blackmail, corruption and gay sex at the Vatican.
Cardinals could meet sooner to choose new pope: Vatican
The cardinals who must pick a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after he steps down on February 28 could meet to make the decision sooner than thought, a Vatican spokesman said Saturday. The conclave, the meeting which will bring together the 117 cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, could start before March 15 if all […]
US defense chief to Pope Benedict: ‘Pray for me’
US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta took a break Wednesday from war planning and leading the world’s most powerful military to pay his respects to Pope Benedict XVI, a champion of peace. Panetta, an observant Catholic who proudly wears his Italian American heritage on his sleeve
Pope prays for peace in Syria in his Christmas message
Deep sorrow over Syria echoed across the Vatican on Christmas Day as Pope Benedict XVI urged warring parties to end a 21-month-old civil war. “May peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims,”
Pope pardons ex-butler for stealing, leaked documents
Pope Benedict XVI granted his former butler a Christmas pardon Saturday, forgiving him in person during a jailhouse meeting for stealing and leaking his private papers in one of the gravest Vatican security breaches in recent times. After the 15-minute meeting, Paolo Gabriele was freed
Pope confirmed that he will proceed with Lebanon trip
Rome, Italy, Aug 23, 2012 / 02:17 am (CNA/EWTN News).- As fighting in neighboring Syria rages on, Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed that he will proceed with his trip to Lebanon as planned. “The Christians in Lebanon are looking forward to the Holy Father’s visit with great joy,” Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Boutros Rai told Aid […]
Pope to visit Lebanon in September despite tensions
Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Lebanon in September will go ahead as scheduled, the Vatican said on Monday, despite tensions in the country linked to the raging conflict in Syria. “The preparations for the visit are going ahead without any uncertainty on the part of the Vatican,”
Vatican: Syria started descending into hell
Syria, where a 15-month conflict is intensifying, has started its descent into hell, the Vatican’s ambassador to the Middle East country said Wednesday. Nuncio Mario Zenari would not be drawn on whether Syria was in the midst of a “civil war”, a term being used increasingly by the international community, but he said “the impression […]