News

Pope to live in Vatican monastery established by Blessed John Paul

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican monastery where Pope Benedict XVI intends to live began its life as the Vatican gardener’s house, but was established as a cloistered convent by Blessed John Paul II in 1994. When Pope Benedict, 85, announced Feb. 11 that his age and declining energies prompted his decision to resign effective […]

St. Anne Parish preserving its legendary history at Villanova U’s website

As cemeteries go, St. Anne Cemetery, which is adjacent to St. Anne Church, in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, is not large. Many if not most of the tombstones have seen their inscriptions obliterated and lost to memory, save that of a dwindling number of descendants, and the written records of the grand old church. That is about to change.

Brian Gail to speak at Catholic Professionals event in Malvern

The Catholic Professionals of Greater Philadelphia will host a meeting featuring Catholic businessman and speaker Brian Gail from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at Malvern Retreat House’s Family Life Center, 315 South Warren Avenue, Malvern. The event is free but space is limited — make your reservation online today. Catholic Professionals of Greater Philadelphia is […]

In hindsight, Pope Benedict’s resignation seems almost predictable

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As much as he astonished the world when he announced his resignation Feb. 11, Pope Benedict XVI’s decision seems almost predictable in hindsight. Given his previous statements on the subject and his recent signs of aging, one might say that people should have seen it coming. The real mystery now is […]

St. Peter Parish, West Brandywine, presents talk on adoption

“Adoption – the Loving Choice” is the topic of a presentation Monday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at St. Peter Parish, 2835 Manor Road in West Brandywine, Chester County. The presentation will be geared to couples with fertility issues, couples who are considering expanding their home to make room for a child who needs one, […]

Pope Benedict’s pontificate marked by teaching, call to return to faith

Citing his age and diminishing energy, the 85-year-old pope announced Feb. 11 that he would be resigning effective Feb. 28 and would devote the rest of his life to prayer. As pastor of the universal church, he used virtually every medium at his disposal — books and Twitter, homilies and encyclicals — to catechize the […]

Pope Benedict’s resignation will set in motion period of transition

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is a first for the church in centuries, it also leads to a complicated period of transition that ends in the election of a new pope. Regulated by ancient traditions and recent rules, the period between popes — known by the Latin term […]

Pope Benedict’s resignation announcement stuns world leaders

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he planned to resign Feb. 28 stunned and shocked religious and political leaders around the world. From Africa to Europe, Asia and Latin America, Catholic leaders offered warm words of praise and pledged to pray for the 85-year-old pontiff’s health. They pointed to Pope Benedict’s love of […]

List of potential cardinal-electors for a papal conclave

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Here is a list of cardinal-electors, from oldest to youngest, eligible to vote for a pope in a conclave.

Pope Benedict shows signs of aging, but Vatican reports no illness

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — From the moment he was elected pope at the age of 78 in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has kept a schedule that appeared light compared to that of Blessed John Paul II, but busy for a man who already had a pacemaker and who wanted to retire to study, write and […]