In his last meeting with Roman clergy, Benedict XVI spoke about a «Second Vatican Council of the media and a real Second Vatican Council,» complaining that the media wanted to set the agenda of the Conciliar fathers. Nowadays something similar is happening again, with respect to Pope Francis’ papacy. One could speak about [...]
The Roman Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls has been entrusted to Benedictines for 1300 years. There was such a strong tradition of ecumenical dialogue there, that Benedict XVI ultimately decided to give the basilica a specific mandate to promote ecumenism. Popes have been concluding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity [...]
The February 22 consistory will start shaping the future Church. The numbers are clear. From now to 2017, 32 cardinals will turn 80, thus losing the right to vote in a future conclave. And from now to Feb. 22, there will be 106 cardinal electors, so Pope Francis had in fact 14 “red [...]
The one-and-a-half hour Eucharistic adoration that concluded the vigil of the prayer for peace, which the Pope called for September 7, will be remembered as one of the most impressive and intense moments of Francis’ pontificate. The words Pope Francis addressed to the crowd have stirred the world’s conscience. And yes, the [...]
Those who know Pope Francis very well note that we are yet to see him at his best. They maintain that Pope Francis is a skilled «politician,» a man of great culture, even if up until now he has only shown the pastoral and – some would concede – populist aspects of his personality. [...]
Purify the faith. Benedict XVI went to Assisi – 25 years after the first meeting of world religious leaders in the town of Saint Francis – for a day of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world Pilgrims of Justice, Pilgrims of peace. And – during his speech – [...]
The new evangelization is the theme of this year’s meeting of the “Ratzinger Schulerkreis,” a group of the Pope’s former students.
The Ratzinger-Schülerkreis, that is the ‘Ratzinger Students’ Circle’, brings together once a year the old theology professor, now pope Benedict XVI, and his former students to discuss a new topic every year.
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