Even though Pope Benedict XVI will spend his retirement near Rome and then inside Vatican City, he will not play any role in the upcoming election for a new pope, and he will not interfere with the responsibilities and decision-making activities of the new pontiff, said Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi. Rather, the new Read more
Whoever takes the helm of the Vatican after the shock resignation of Benedict XVI will inherit a problem on his own doorstep. Home to more than a quarter of a billion Catholics, the headquarters of the Holy See, a wellspring of doctrine and a source of manpower that has helped make converts throughout the world, Read more
Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, has given some details on the plans for the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, and for the conclave that will choose his successor. Pope Benedict will hold a final meeting with members of the College of Cardinals in the morning on February 28. His resignation will take effect that evening. Read more
It was with some sadness that New Zealand Catholic Bishops woke to the news of Pope Benedict XVI is to resign from his papacy at the end of the month. “While we are sad that his papacy is coming to an end, we understand the humility, prayer and reflection that will have been behind this Read more
Pope Benedict received a prolonged standing ovation (video) in his first appearance since announcing his resignation. The pope was in St Peter’s Square to deliver his Ash Wednesday message. Before delivering his message he took time to thank the faithful for their kindness and saying that during these last few days he could almost feel the Read more
Pope Benedict XVI has tried to make his mark on history by repeated and varied attempts to draw the Catholic Church back to its past. So, it is ironic that Benedict’s place in the history books will probably be ensured not by those attempts, but by his going back in history to do what no Read more
A Catholic Church official in the Philippines, Tuesday, has downplayed the prophecy of a 12th-century Irish saint who supposedly predicted that the next Pope would be the last and the end of the world would follow. Fr Francis Lucas, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Read more
Pope Benedict XVI will not publish a 3rd encyclical, which had originally been scheduled for release early this year, the papal spokesman has announced. Last year the Vatican had announced that the Pontiff was drafting an encyclical on faith, to complement his two previous encyclicals on hope and on love. But the text is not Read more
Topless women activists pounded a huge church bell in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to “celebrate” the pope’s resignation. The nine women from Ukrainian feminist group Femen had their chests and backs emblazoned with the words “Pope No More.” They didn’t explain their action except to say they are “provocateurs” celebrating Pope Benedict XVI’s decision Read more
Pope Benedict’s last Mass as pope is on Ash Wednesday, and it will be held in St Peter’s. Benedict XVI was scheduled to preside over the traditional Ash Wednesday Lenten Stations of the Cross at Sant’ Anselmo church, followed by a procession to Santa Sabina Basilica on Rome’s Aventine Hill. “It’s very clear that St. Read more