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There was “absolute silence” this morning when the Pope told cardinals that he decided to resign, according to Mexican prelate Monsignor Oscar Sanchez, who witnessed his resignation. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the pope took his decision “aware of the great problems the church faces today”. His decision showed “great courage” and “determination”, Lombardi said. Lombardi Read more
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As violence in Syria continues to escalate, the Vatican has called off sending a papal delegation there on a mission of peace. Instead, Pope Benedict XVI has sent Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, to neighbouring Lebanon, to meet pastors and members of the various churches present in Syria. He Read more
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Pope Benedict XVI closed the Synod of Bishops on Sunday with an exhortation to develop new ways of reaching out to those who had drifted from the faith. The pope closed the three-week meeting of some 260 bishops with a solemn Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. The bishops discussed ways to stem what has been Read more
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Pope Benedict XVI has expressed solidarity and prayed for Caribbean nations hit by Hurricane Sandy. The pope on Sunday said he wanted to express his sympathy to those hit by the devastating hurricane that struck Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas “with particular violence.” Hurricane Sandy left nearly 60 dead in the Caribbean. The pope Read more
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Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday announced that he would create six new cardinals during a consistory on November 24, the eve of the feast of Christ the King. The new cardinals include 63-year-old U.S. Archbishop James M. Harvey, prefect of the papal household; Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, 72; Archbishop Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, 53, head Read more
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Pope Benedict XVI canonized seven new saints on Sunday. In his homily, the pope praised each of the seven new saints as examples for the entire church. They “lived their lives in total consecration to God and in generous service to their brothers,” the pope said. The canonization coincided with the Synod of Bishops on Read more
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Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi on Monday said the peace mission to Syria will will take place “as soon as possible” but may be delayed by recent events. Several prelates, including New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, were set to leave for Syria later this week, but Lombardi said recent fighting in Damascu and unrest in Beirut Read more
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Pope Benedict XVI is sending a delegation of bishops, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, to Syria in late October to show solidarity with victims of violence and encourage peace negotiations. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, made the announcement on Oct. 16, the Catholic News Service reported. “In the certainty that Read more
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Pope Benedict XVI reportedly supported the Russian Orthodox Church’s tough stance against the punk band Pussy Riot who were controversially jailed for two years after staging an anti-Vladimir Putin protest in a Moscow cathedral, The Independent of London reported. The pope’s position was announced in comments posted on the website of Patriarch Kirill, head of Read more
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Pope Benedict XVI has added Arabic to the list of official languages used at his weekly general audiences, launching the effort by offering the promise of his prayers in Arabic on October 10. “The Pope prays for all the people who speak Arabic. God bless you all,” he said in Arabic at the Oct. 10 Read more
