Pope Benedict XVI’s final trip as pope was a 15-minute helicopter ride from the Vatican to the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo. He was joined in the Italian government chopper by his personal secretary and assistant secretary, his personal physician, his new valet and an official of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household. Joining Read more
A date for the start of the secret papal conclave to elect a new pope may not be chosen until the world’s cardinals formally meet on Monday for the first time since Benedict’s departure. Timing is important because Holy Week begins March 24, with Easter Sunday March 31. To have a new pope in place Read more
Social media became instant media today when the Vatican deleted all of Emeritus Pope Benedict’s tweets from Twitter. The first pope to have his own Twitter account, @Pontifex, Tweeted shortly before his departure from the Vatican: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at Read more
Pope Benedict has done a ‘good enough’ job, according to Tim Duckworth, a Marist priest in Rome. Talking from the Vatican to Garth Bray on TVNZ Breakfast, Fr Duckworth qualified his remarks by saying he didn’t think it would be an easy job. Echoing Benedict’s comments in his final message, that whoever succeeds him “no Read more
I’ve just returned from St Peter’s Square where I was packed in shoulder-to- shoulder with 150,000 others for Benedict’s final general audience. Saying farewell to a Pope who hasn’t actually died makes this experience of farewell a rather unusual one – at least it hasn’t happened for centuries. Benedict has said clearly that he will Read more
Pope Benedict XVI held his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, telling tens of thousands of people he had known “moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy” when “the Lord seemed to be sleeping.” In an unusually personal address, the pope cited the biblical voyage of Jesus and Read more
For the very last time Benedict XVI rode the Popemobile to greet the pilgrims gathered for the general audience at St. Peter’s Square. In bright winter sunshine, the 85-year-old German Pope was driven around St Peter’s Square in a white Mercedes jeep. During the course of the journey, the frail Pope Benedict waved to the Read more
Cardinal George Pell, has levelled some surprising criticism at Pope Benedict, reports Australia’s Seven News. Pell criticised the outgoing Pope, saying that despite being a great theologian and a brilliant teacher, governance and government wasn’t his strong point. “He’s got to know his theology, but I think I’d prefer… someone who can lead the church Read more
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I offer a warm and affectionate greeting to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors who have joined me for this, my last General Audience. Like Saint Paul, whose words we heard earlier, my heart is filled with thanksgiving to God who ever watches over his Church and her growth in faith and Read more