A day in the fast lane would be a fair description of Pope Francis’s day in Milan. During the whirlwind trip on Saturday, Francis found time to visit a housing project, Muslim families and elderly people. He also spoke with clergy and religious, had lunch at a prison and finished off by meeting newly confirmed Read more
The postponement of Pope Francis’s visit to Milan next year has sparked speculation that the Pontiff is avoiding meeting Cardinal Angelo Scola. The Vatican press office announced that the papal pastoral visits to Milan and other Italian dioceses next year were postponed. The reason cited is the demands on the Pope’s schedule during the jubilee Read more
For the progressive Church, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, or the “Eternal Pope in Waiting” represents a Catholic Church and papacy that never was, whereas Church conservatives saw him as a “nightmare”. As believers and non-believers alike almost brought Milan to a halt as they bid farewell to their popular pastor, his final interview, to his Read more
In moments of crisis, there’s a natural desire among many Catholics to rally around the flag, meaning to show support for the church and the pope. It’s not about denial, because Catholics are nothing if not sober realists about the church’s failures. It’s instead about saying to the world that despite it all, there’s still Read more
Cardinal Angelo Scola, widely considered a leading candidate to be the next pope, has distanced himself from sharp criticism of his two predecessors in Milan leveled by the head of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic movement born in Italy and seen as a bulwark of conservative Catholic opinion. Scola’s criticism is considered especially significant, given Read more
With Pope Benedict XVI in Milan over last weekend for three days under the watchful eyes of Vatican and Italian police, members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard set down their halberds and went off to do some volunteer work in earthquake-stricken northern Italy last weekend. Lt Col Christoph Graf, vice commander of the Swiss Guards, Read more
During a three day visit to Milan to support the activity of the World Meeting of Families, Pope Benedict spoke several times, addressing young catholics, holding a question and answer session with young people, and preaching 1 million faithful at Sunday Mass. Traditional family values are the key to navigating modern society Pope Benedict told Read more
The Vatican leaks scandal rolls on according to John Allen in the NCR, with an Italian newspaper publishing two confidential letters concerning the unpopular and powerful Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The leaked letters expose a failed effort by Bertone to take control of an important Catholic university and hospital system. The aftermath, also Read more
Pope Benedict has appointed Venice patriarch Cardinal Angelo Scola as archbishop of Milan on Tuesday, moving him to a high profile position in the Italian Catholic church. The 69-year-old Scola is a theologian like Benedict and is considered one of his closest advisers among Italian prelates. He is known for his outreach to Muslim and Read more