The Vatican has dismissed a claim by Mehmet Ali Agca that his assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1983 was ordered by the late Iranian Islamic leader Ayatollah Khomeini. In an autobiography, the would-be assassin claims he was trained by Iranian forces and given the mission to kill the Pontiff by the ayatollah Read more
The Popemobile used by Pope John Paul II on his 1979 Irish visit is now being hired out for stag nights, hen parties and corporate gigs. Businessman Paddy Dunning, who acquired the Irish Popemobile with the stock of a wax museum, has given it a makeover and expanded it to a 15-seater. He is charging Read more
Catholics have been arguing about the Second Vatican Council—about what it did and didn’t do, about what it meant and still means or what it never meant and could never mean—for half a century. Many reform-minded Catholics today are disappointed by what they see as a retreat, under the papacies of John Paul II and Read more
Italian police have recovered a vial of blood from Pope John Paul II contained in a backpack which three thieves stole from a priest on a train. The priest, Father Augusto Baldini, had left Rome for a sanctuary near the port of Civitavecchia, where the relic was to be put on display. When he got Read more
In his Encyclical Laborem Exercens John John Paul II said “The rights of workers must take priority over the maximisation of profits” . “It is important not to quote selectively from Church documents to justify a predetermined position”, says Brian O’Connell. “So this quotation from the encyclical does not mean that the social teaching of the Catholic Church always favours the Read more
Pope Benedict was visiting Cuba as a pligrim, honouring Cuba’s patron on the 400th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin of Charity said Cuban Cardinal, Jamie Ortega. Ortega made the statements in a rare state TV address, granted to him by Cuban authorities. “There was great interest in this pilgrimage because the pope is determined Read more
A second miracle attributed to the late pope John Paul II has been reported and he could be made a saint soon.
The miraculous healing was reported in Italy’s Panorama weekly yesterday, citing documents sent to the Vatican.
It occurred just weeks after John Paul II’s grandiose beatification on May 1 last year, which put him on the path to sainthood just six years after his death and was attended by over a million people.
The second miracle, about which no details were reported, was chosen from among four reported miracles and documented by the promoter of Karol Wojtyla’s canonisation, Bishop Slowomir Oder, Panorama said.
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Pope Benedict has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law, archpriest of St Mary Major, a prominent Roman basilica. Nine years ago, after the clerical sex abuse scandal forced his resignation at Archbishop of Boston, John Paul II appointed Law as archpriest of one of Rome’s most important churches. Cardinal Law, who turned 80 this Read more
Thirty-three years ago today Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was installed as Pope John Paul II. October 22, 2011 the Catholic Church around the world celebrated his feast day as Blessed John Paul II, just six and a half years after the end of his papacy. At the Vatican, a prayer vigil was scheduled for the afternoon Read more
He was pilloried by the Vatican for creating a sculpture of Pope John Paul II that some mockingly say looks more like Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini than the beloved late pontiff. Now artist Oliviero Rainaldi has a chance at redemption.
The sculptor recently agreed to carry out changes decided upon by a committee of art experts, culture officials and scholars.
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