Posts Tagged ‘Pope Benedict’

The Two Popes: a mixed bag theologically and politically, with bravura performances

Monday, December 9th, 2019
The Two Popes

Netflix’s The Two Popes may be best described, borrowing a turn of phrase from Fredric Jameson, as “nostalgia for the present”. Biopic and historical dramas are traditionally reserved for people who are dead, so I felt suspicious about watching a movie about two popes who are alive. It feels premature and slightly reminiscent of Barack Read more

Pope signs new statutes for Vatican bank reforms

Monday, August 12th, 2019

Pope Francis’s reforms to the Vatican Bank and attempts to restore its ethical credentials include new statutes. On Saturday Francis signed the new statutes and approved other changes to bolster the reforms that have cleaned out the once scandal-ridden institution. The reforms were initially launched by Francis’s predecessor Pope Benedict. Until Benedict and Francis sought Read more

Pope accepts Nigerian bishop’s resignation

Thursday, February 22nd, 2018

Pope Francis has accepted a Nigerian bishop’s resignation after months of attempting to convince Nigerian clergy to accept Bishop Ebere Okpaleke’s authority. Priests of Ahiara diocese, Mbaise in Nigeria’s Imo state have consistently refused to accept Okpaleke since his appointment nearly six years ago. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Okpaleke Bishop of Ahiara. Local clergy and Read more

Benedict proud of destroying Vatican “Gay Lobby”

Tuesday, September 13th, 2016

Gay lobbyists at the Vatican got a short shrift from Pope Benedict XVI  – an action he says he is particularly proud of The Emeritus Pope went into detail about what he considers to be the most important achievement of his papacy in his upcoming book, Final Conversations, which is an extended interview with German Read more

History’s greatest act of papal humility

Tuesday, February 16th, 2016

By sheer coincidence, I was in Rome on Feb. 11, 2013. My wife and I had already moved back to the United States from Rome, but on that date I had returned to give a talk on religious freedom at the Italian Foreign Ministry, which is why I happened to be in town when the Read more

Commission that slammed Pell praises sacked Bishop Morris

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Australia’s royal commission looking at institutional responses to child sex abuse has backed the way sacked Toowoomba Bishop William Morris handled a case. Fr Frank Brennan, SJ, writing for the ABC, noted how this is in stark contrast to how the commission lambasted Cardinal George Pell’s handling of the case of abuse victim John Ellis. This Read more

Meet former Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

Tuesday, February 24th, 2015

“That there is the Casa di Santa Marta, where Pope Francis lives. That down there is the monastery where Pope Ratzinger retired. And this right here is the Terrace of Scandals.” I am strolling on the roof of the Palazzo San Carlo with the man who for eight years was the most powerful person in Read more

Comparing Francis with Benedict

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015

Pope Francis delivered another gesture this week destined to burnish his legend for both humility and reform, deciding that an annual Mass in which newly appointed archbishops from around the world receive their symbol of office will no longer be held in Rome, but in their home archdiocese. That event, called the Pallium Mass, traditionally Read more