It’s like a dream or a movie. In less than a year, Pope Francis has transformed the dominant discourse around Catholicism from scandal and despair to joy and the evangelical demands in light of poverty and economic exclusion. “Each individual Christian and every community,” he wrote in Evangelii Gaudium last week, “is called to be an instrument Read more
Confirmation that Pope Francis intends a complete overhaul of the Roman Curia has been made official following the first meeting of the Council of Cardinals appointed to help the Pope govern the Church. The aim is to emphasise the Curia’s role of service to the universal Church and the local churches “in terms of subsidiarity, Read more
The reform of the Roman Curia, the function of the Vatican Secretariat of State and the role of the Synod of Bishops have occupied Pope Francis and his advisory council of cardinals during their first meeting. The three-day meeting opened with a talk by the Pope on the ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council. This Read more
A Vatican official facing money-laundering charges has appealed to Pope Francis, insisting he is innocent and claiming he was betrayed by his superiors. Accused cleric Monsignor Nunzio Scarano wrote to the Pope from Rome’s Regina Caeli prison, where he is detained on charges of planning to bring €20 million in cash ($NZ33.5 million) into Italy Read more
The excitement is increasing around St Peter’s Basilica as people arrive for this historic time and discuss the perceived needs of the church and the strengths or weaknesses of candidates. It is recognised that much is at stake in this conclave, perhaps more than ever before. A number of candidates’ names keep surfacing with the Read more
Only five Catholic cardinals, considered princes of the church who vote for the pope, have resigned — or been kicked out – since 1791. When British Cardinal Keith O’Brien announced his resignation Monday as a Scottish archbishop, he also said he would not do the most important task of a cardinal: vote for the next Read more
As days pass since the announcement of Benedict XVI’s resignation, it becomes clear that his decision is one whose profound significance will only gradually become clear. Benedict is a teacher, a writer, a scholar, for whom words are never trivialized. Vatican observers are listening carefully to each of his speeches, and watching every gesture and Read more
Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington to be a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and gave cardinals created in February their assignments as members of other Vatican congregations and councils. The appointments were announced at the Vatican April 21. U.S. Cardinal Edwin F. O’Brien, grand master Read more