December 2012

Pope Benedict’s Homily at the Concluding Mass of the Synod

Dear Brother Bishops, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Brothers and Sisters, The miracle of the healing of blind Bartimaeus comes at a significant point in the structure of Saint Mark’s Gospel. It is situated at the end of the section on the “journey to Jerusalem,” that is, Jesus’ last pilgrimage to the Holy City, for the [...]

“The Holy Spirit Helps Us and Shows Us the Right Way”

Pope Benedict XVI closes the 2012 Synod of Bishops on the “new evangelization” with a call to bear witness everywhere to Christ...   The Synod for the New Evangelization is over, but the work starts now. This happens all the time, but in this case it seems more necessary than ever for all Christians to roll [...]

“The Frescoes Are Safe for at Least 500 Years”

An interview with Dr. Antonio Paolucci, head of the Vatican Museums. Is the Sistine Chapel at risk? Are Michelangelo’s frescoes disappearing like the paintings in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt? Vatican officials say there is no reason for concern despite the alarm recently caused by rumors circulating for the celebration of [...]

Philippines: a Canonization and a New Cardinal

An interview with Mercedes Arrastia-Tuason, Philippine ambassador to the Holy See. This fall has been eventful for the Philippine embassy to the Holy See. In October, Benedict XVI canonized Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the second Blessed of the biggest Catholic country of Asia. Then, on November 24 at the consistory, held in the Vatican, the Pope created [...]

“The World Is Not the Product of Darkness”

The Sistine Chapel prepared for the Conclave of 2005 in which Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope (Galazka photo) Benedict XVI leads a prayer service in the Sistine Chapel marking the 500th anniversary of a prayer service led by Pope Julius II in 1512 to celebrate Michelangelo’s completion of the ceiling paintings. Standing in the [...]

“Death and the Immensity that Awaits Us” A Reflection on Eternity and Heaven

This editorial, written in 1979 by the Cardinal Archbishop of Genoa, Italy, Giuseppe Siri (1906-1989), speaks eloquently about the reality and significance of eternal life.   A recent document published by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has recalled the fundamental points of Christian certitude, which cannot be omitted. Naturally this has provoked [...]

Cardinal Dolan Takes Possession of His Titular Church in Rome

Cardinal Timothy Dolan kisses the crucifix before Mass. The Archbishop of New York took possession of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on October 14, leaving behind him in his Roman parish a sense of joy and goodwill. “Qui è come a New York” (“It’s like New York here”) said Cardinal Timothy Dolan on October [...]

Hospitality and a Family-run Restaurant not Far from St. Peter’s

The Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer were founded in Ciempozuelos, Madrid, Spain, on June 1, 1864, by Bishop Jose Maria Benito Serra, OSB, and Antonia de Oviedo Schonthal, OSR, for the evangelization and integral healing of exploited women. These sisters also have a guest house in Rome, Villa Fatima, and provide friendly service and [...]

His Beatitude Introduces the Syro-Malankara Church to Our Readers

By His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis   The Malankara Church received the Christian faith in the very first century from the preaching of St. Thomas the Apostle (the apostle known as “Doubting Thomas”). The Indian Church, or the Church of St. Thomas Christians, was popularly known as the Malankara Church, or the Church in Malabar, even from [...]

Bringing the Malankara Church to the Attention of the Catholic World

Interview with His Beatitude, newly-appointed Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Your Beatitude, you are becoming a cardinal and will have the opportunity to work in close association with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. How do you react to this prospect? His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis: The Holy Father has nominated me to [...]

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