Pope Benedict XVI has formally approved a miracle attributed to his late predecessor, paving the way to John Paul II’s beatification on 1 May. The process of beatification, or declaring the late pontiff to be “blessed”, is a crucial step towards making him a saint.
Posts Tagged ‘Benedict XVI’
“Pope visit of great importance for Serbia”
December 23rd, 2010 |
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The Roman Catholic archbishop of Belgrade said the possible visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Serbia would be very significant. Stanislav HoÄevar was quoted as saying that Serbia would “thus present itself as a state that is aware of its historic role and would become the driving force of dialogue in the region”.
Catholics and condoms: No kidding
November 25th, 2010 |
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A slight shift in position on condoms
FROM the headlines, it sounded like a sensational climbdown: Pope Benedict XVI had said the use of condoms in some circumstances was permissible. In fact, the pontiff had not announced a U-turn, but shifted a nuance. In an interview with a German journalist, Peter Seewald, for a book published by the Vatican (and checked before publication), he gave an example of a situation in which condom use might be acceptable. If a male prostitute was trying, responsibly, to do his bit to halt the spread of AIDS, that would be “a first step towards moralisation”.
That is a long way from a full embrace of modern contraceptive technology (and secular thinking about sexuality). The pope used a case in which a condom could have no contraceptive role. His careful scholarly words also reiterated the Church’s teaching that condoms trivialise sex, reducing it to a “self-administered drug”, stoking promiscuity, and thus AIDS. …
Zardari stays execution of blasphemy accused Pak-Christian woman
November 20th, 2010 |
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Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has stayed the execution of a Christian mother sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. On Friday, Zardari directed the federal minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, to submit a report in this regard within three days, The News reported. The lawyer for the accused, SK Shahid, has already challenged the [...]
Forbes names Bill Gates ‘Most Powerful Man in technology’
November 9th, 2010 |
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Bill Gates has been listed as the most powerful man in the technology world by Forbes. The founder of Microsoft, Gates has been named the 10th most powerful man in the world, ahead of the likes of Rupert Murdoch, Hillary Clinton and Steve Jobs, reports The Telegraph. Forbes has praised him for his work in [...]
New Roman Catholic cardinals: Unbendable
October 21st, 2010 |
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Italian prelates return in force
WHEN John Paul II, the first non-Italian pontiff since 1523, was elected in 1978 it was seen as a sign that the church was belatedly making good its claim to be catholic, or universal. Italians were unconvinced; some called the reign of the former Karol Wojtyla the “Polish exception”. But when a German was named to succeed him, it seemed even to many Italians that their grip on the papacy had been broken.
On October 20th Pope Benedict XVI seemed to assuage Italian gloom. He announced the names of 24 new cardinals, including 20 below the age of 80 who will thus get the right to vote in a papal election. Eight of the cardinal-electors are from Italy. Once they receive their red hats on November 20th, some 25 of the 120 voting cardinals will be Italians; it looks highly possible that one of them will be chosen to succeed the 83-year-old Benedict. …
Mobile Pope
September 16th, 2010 |
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Where the pope likes to go on his official travels
POPE BENEDICT XVI began his state visit to Britain on Thursday September 16th. He finds a country where Catholics, once discriminated against, are conspicuously successful in public life and where the Catholic Church has enjoyed a boost in its fortunes since the European Union expanded in 2004. This may mean Britain receives more visits from popes in the future: the country is low on the list of countries visited since 1964, when the Vatican began counting such trips systematically. However Britain will not be the most comfortable place for the current pope to visit. His elevation from Cardinal Ratzinger to Benedict XVI prompted the Sun newspaper to run a headline that read, “From Hitler Youth to Papa Ratzi”. Since then, reporting of his papacy in Britain has been dominated by the Church’s mis-handling of child-abuse scandals.
More Daily charts …
Susan Boyle To Sing For Pope
August 25th, 2010 |
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Talent show sensation Susan Boyle is set to fulfill her biggest dream yet –- she’ll be singing for the pope. The Scottish spinister-turned-international singing star is also a Catholic and will perform “I Dreamed A Dream,” the Les Miserables hit that made her a YouTube star around the globe last year. Susan will also sing the [...]
Mel Gibson’s father calls Pope Benedict XVI homosexual
August 10th, 2010 |
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Mel Gibson’s father, Hutton Gibson, has called Pope Benedict XVI a homosexual. Hutton, 91, called Pope Benedict XVI a homosexual during a radio interview, according to TMZ. In the interview, the host asked Gibson if the Catholic Church has become “politicised†to the point that it cannot address issues like homosexuality. Gibson responded that the [...]
Susan Boyle expected to perform for Pope during his visit to Britain
June 11th, 2010 |
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Scottish singer Susan Boyle is expected to perform for the Pope during his visit to Britain.
Boyle, 49, had gained global fame after she appeared on last year’s Britain’s Got Talent contest on ITV1, and now church leaders want her to perform in Glasgow at events planned for the Pontiff’s visit in September.
“Negotiations are still under [...]
Susan Boyle To Sing For The Pope?
April 26th, 2010 |
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The Roman Catholic Church wants Scottish spinster-turned-singing sensation Susan Boyle to perform for Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Britain later this year, a spokesman for the church told The Herald Sun on Sunday.A spokesperson for the church’s Scottish diocese said that a meeting is likely to be held to discuss a performance by [...]
No decision yet on inviting Pope to visit Serbia
April 17th, 2010 |
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Patriarch Irinej said that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has yet to decide on whether it would invite Pope Benedict XVI to visit Serbia in 2013. Regarding the celebration of 1,700 years since the Edict of Milan in Niš, Irinej said that he expect leaders of all Christian churches to attend, since it is one of the most important dates of the religion.
The Vatican’s travails: When walls are too high
April 8th, 2010 |
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A penchant for conspiracy is no help to the Vatican’s image
IT WAS a scene that could have come from medieval times: the ruler sat on a gilded throne before the multitude as a courtier extolled his virtues. The sovereign, he said, was an “unfailing rock” who would not be deterred by the “idle chatter” of critics.
The setting was St Peter’s Square at the start of the most solemn Mass in the Roman Catholic liturgy, on Easter Sunday, April 4th. The ruler was Pope Benedict XVI and his courtier Angelo Sodano, the dean of the college of cardinals. His oddly anachronistic eulogy was a reminder that the Vatican is not a democratic state or a multinational firm, but a sort of absolute monarchy. Catholics believe its ruler owes his place to divine right: that he is chosen not by the cardinals who elect him, but ultimately by the Holy Spirit working through them. …
Papal vulnerability
March 29th, 2010 |
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Pope Benedict XVI is losing popularity
THE pope addressed tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday (March 28th) at the start of Holy Week in the Catholic Church. Despite the crowds, Pope Benedict XVI’s popularity may be waning as a result of his handling of recent child-abuse scandals across Europe and America. Some even want him to resign for his part, before becoming pope in 2005, in a decision merely to send for therapy an alleged paedophile priest, who later returned to pastoral work. The church has said that Cardinal Ratzinger (as he then was) did not know that the priest returned to work. The pope is also accused of ignoring pleas for the removal of an American priest, who allegedly molested 200 deaf boys. Yet the pope’s supporters point to his earlier efforts, reportedly ignored by his predecessor John Paul II, to launch a full inquiry into the behaviour of a cardinal in Vienna who was removed from office in 1995 after accusations of sex abuse.
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Pope apologizes for Irish priests’ sex abuse
March 20th, 2010 |
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Pope Benedict XVI has apologized to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland.
In a pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, he acknowledged the sense of betrayal in the Church felt by victims and their families.
Pope Benedict XVI congratulates new patriarch
January 23rd, 2010 |
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Roman Catholic Church leader Pope Benedict XVI congratulated the new Serbian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Irinej on his election. The Pope said that he hopes that the two churches will be able to increase cooperation.
“Church would welcome Pope visitâ€
January 22nd, 2010 |
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SPC Bishop Irinej believes that Pope Benedict XVI could visit Serbia in 2013, on the anniversary of the Edict of Milan. “For now, this is only an assumption and the Pope’s wish to visit Serbia on the occasion of marking the anniversary of the Edict of Milan,†Irinej told Tanjug and added that he believes that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) would welcome the visit of the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Knocked Down [VIDEO] — Pope Benedict Falls During Christmas Eve Ambush
December 25th, 2009 |
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Pope Benedict XVI is recovering from pre-Mass pandemonium this evening after a mentally-disturbed Roman woman jumped a barrier and toppled The Pontiff as he walked down the main aisle during Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday.
The 82-year-old pope was helped to his feet by aides and is unhurt, said Vatican spokesman The [...]
Russia, Vatican establish diplomatic ties
December 4th, 2009 |
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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday signed a decree to establish diplomatic relations with Vatican City, and met with Pope Benedict XVI. Under the decree, Russia’s mission in the Vatican will be transformed into an embassy, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Vatican shows support for Serbian EU integration
November 14th, 2009 |
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President Boris Tadić and Pope Benedict XVI met in the Vatican to discuss Serbia’s European integration and issues related to Kosovo. Tadić also met with the Vatican secretary of state and foreign minister before meeting with the pope.