More than 100 Roman Catholic cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel in March. One will emerge as pope. Who will it be? The “Sweet Sistine” is our guess at the top candidates from each continent. You can vote below for who you think would move on to the next round in each matchup. First-round Read more
Pope
New titles and clothes for retired pope
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
If clothes and titles ‘maketh the man’, after two weeks of consultations with aides, theologians and historians, the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict will be known as “pope emeritus Benedict XVI” or “Roman Pontiff emeritus Benedict XVI”. The retired pope will continue to be addressed as “Your Holiness,” but be referred to as “His Holiness Benedict Read more
Lay leakers of conclave secrets get automatic excommunication
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
Fuelled by leaking of top Vatican secrets by his butler, Pope Benedict, has extended the oath of secrecy to lay people at the Papal Conclave. As part of his ‘motu proprio’ (at his own initiative) released on February 25, Pope Benedict outlined the penalty for such and infraction is automatic excommunication. With his ‘motu proprio’ the Read more
Dressing the next pope
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
As cardinals preen themselves for their big moment at next month’s conclave, an equally intense rivalry is playing out behind the scenes. For some Italians, just as important as who becomes Pope is who dresses him. Two distinguished ecclesiastic outfitters are vying to make the ivory-white tunics that the new head of the Roman Catholic Read more
Conclave may start early, says outgoing Pope
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
All voting cardinals have to be present before they can discharge Pope Benedict XVI’s, last minute decree giving cardinals “the possibility to bring forward” a papal conclave to elect his successor. “I leave the College of Cardinals the possibility to bring forward the start of the conclave once all cardinals are present, or push the beginning Read more
Opinion: The unfinished business of Pope Benedict XVI
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013Although Pope Benedict XVI’s highly unusual resignation is said to be for reasons of health, it fits the character of his papacy: all his initiatives remain incomplete. He was elected to rescue the church from itself, but he failed to finish what he started. The assessments of his papacy have so far focused on Benedict’s Read more
Benedict to intervene and change conclave rules
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
CNA is quoting ‘sources’ saying Pope Benedict intends to publish a declaration enabling cardinals to select a date for the Conclave to start earlier than the 15 day waiting period, currently required by the Church’s Canon Law. Communications Director, Fr Federico Lombardi SJ, confirmed the possibility that the Pope was considering such a move. The Read more
Opinion: No splits in the Sistine Chapel
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
Benedict’s decision to resign left people wondering, “Why at this time?” There seemed to be good reasons for such a decision to be made later. He had initiated a “Year of Faith” in October 2012; it would have made sense to leave his resignation till the end of the year of Faith. He has completed Read more
Opinion: Inside the vatican – systemic disorder
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
The “Vatileaks” scandal was one in a long series of recent Vatican scandals, and sadly it was not the last. Something of the dark irony of the scandal – “the Butler done it” – may have prevented people from seeing the seriousness of the incident. In reality it’s one of the most serious security breaches Read more
Benedict tells angelus crowd God called him to quit
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
In his last Sunday blessing from a window overlooking the giant key-shaped piazza, the 85-year-old Pope said he was not “abandoning the Church” by his decision to retire to a former convent inside the walls of the Vatican. To applause and cheering from the crowd, he said he had been “called” by God to devote Read more