Benedict XVI’s resignation and withdrawal into a life of prayer has taught the Church a lesson of doing “theology on its knees”, Pope Francis has said. Francis wrote this in the preface of a new book by the Pope Emeritus, titled “Teaching and Learning the Love of God”. It is the first volume of several Read more
An Argentine bishop whose appointment Pope Francis opposed before he became Roman Pontiff has resigned after allegations of mismanaging funds. Bishop Oscar Sarlinga of Zarate-Campana diocese announced his resignation on Sunday. This came after an administrative takeover of his diocese, ordered by Francis in January 2014. The “fraternal mission” was led by the Pontiff’s successor Read more
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has never regretted or doubted his decision to resign two years ago, says his personal secretary. Archbishop Georg Ganswein said Benedict is certain and serene about his decision, made for the good of the Church, because of his waning strength. Archbishop Ganswein said the retired Pope’s usual routine these days involves Read more
Hubert Wolf, Professor of Church History at the University of Münster, is calling for a clearer distinction between “pope” and “pope emeritus”. According to Wolf, there are fears that “around Francis and Benedict XVI two competing power centres could come into being in the curia, with pope and antipope at the top of each.” The Read more
An Italian bishop has warned that Catholics who go to Mass at chapels staffed by the traditionalist Society of St Pius X incur excommunication. Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano diocese said SSPX bishops and priests are suspended from priestly ministry. When the faithful receive the sacraments from them, “they break communion with the Catholic Church”. Read more
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI has warned against relativistic ideas of religious truth as being “lethal to faith”. The retired pontiff sent a written message of 1800 words to Rome’s Pontifical Urbanian University, where a lecture hall was recently dedicated to him. “The risen Lord instructed his apostles, and through them his disciples in all ages, Read more
Former is Pope Benedict XVI pictured with the sisters who care for him at his home, Mater Ecclesiae, a restored convent within the confines of the Vatican. The lay sisters are known as ‘the four guardian angels’. These sisters previously lived with Benedict in the Papal apartments. The former convent has 12 monastic cells over two Read more
Once I believed that when you found faith, it rarely wavered. Then I learned that even saints had massive doubts about God. How reassuring. If even the holiest of the holy had second thoughts, why not me? Maybe we Catholics should talk more about doubt. It actually is an intrinsic part of the pilgrimage, a Read more
As the Holy See looks into the possibility of a papal visit to Turkey and while some are speaking of a religious war, twisting Ratzinger’s Regensburg speech to create a contrast between the two Popes, it is worth remembering those key moments of silence, which Benedict XVI spent inside Istanbul’s Blue Mosque The two minutes Read more