When Pope Benedict XVI retired in 2013 — the first pontiff to do so in 600 years — the church had no rules for what a retired pope’s role would be or even what he would be called. After Benedict’s resignation, his papal seal and fisherman’s ring were wisely broken, as would have happened if Read more
The editor of a German publication found Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI “bright-eyed, smiling, leaning on a Zimmer frame” at a meeting last week. Kai Diekmann, editor-in-chief of Bild Zeitung, visited the former Pope at his residence inside the Vatican on October 15. Benedict, 88, greeted Diekmann with a warm, two-handed handshake. “He is there on Read more