In the January-February 2024 issue of Inside the Vatican, we follow from beginning to end the Vatican “Trial of the Century” which convicted curial Cardinal Angelo Becciu and eight others after 30 months and 600 courtroom hours; we profile our annual Top Ten personalities of 2023 — Shining Lights in an Often-dark Sky; American Cardinal James Francis Stafford talks to ITV about his 91 years from childhood to the Vatican and now retirement; and Maestro Aurelio Porfiri gives us his take on both the pitfalls but also the possibilities of AI in human culture.
Table of Contents
EDITORIAL
On Blessings and Orthodoxy by Robert Moynihan
LEAD STORY
The Vatican Trial of the Century: Cardinal Angelo Becciu and eight others are convicted by ITV staff
NEWS
VATICAN / New Declaration Fiducia Supplicans: Wreaking Havoc on Blessings? by Fr. Thomas Weinandy, OFM
VATICAN / The Pope continues to remove bishops — is this Synodality? by Christina Deardurff
ARMENIA / Christians on the Brink: Persecution in the World’s War Zones by Christopher Hart-Moynihan
SPECIAL: TOP TEN OF 2023
Shining Lights in an Often-dark Sky
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Kenyan Bishop Martin Kivuva
Sr. Chiara and Gaza’s Missionaries of Charity
Ruth Burrows, a.k.a. Sr. Rachel Gregory, OCD
Bishop Erik Varden of Norway
Mónika Dunai, Hungarian Member of Parliament
Bishop Fred Henry, retired bishop of Calgary in Canada
Armenian Bishop Mikael Mouradian
Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Yonan
Nigerian Sr. Patricia Ergebelum
CULTURE
Interview / American Cardinal James Francis Stafford at 91 by Barbara Middleton
Education / Theosis Academy reflects authentic “diversity within unity” by Dominic Cassella
Scripture / Treating the Sins of the Flesh with a Shrug by Anthony Esolen
Spirituality Behind Bars / “If I forget you, Jerusalem” by Marcellus Roberts
URBI ET ORBI: CATHOLICISM AND ORTHODOXY
Icon / The Creed: The Teaching on the Resurrection by Robert Wiesner
East-West Watch / Orthodox Moldova by Peter Anderson
News from the East/Iraqi court rejects cardinal’s suit; world’s first Greek Catholic museum opens; Ukrainian PMs question church ban; LGBT propaganda outlawed in Russia by Matthew Trojacek
FEATURES
Tradition and Beauty / Riding the Tiger by Aurelio Porfiri
Art / Antonio Canova: In the Vatican and Rome by Lucy Gordan
Diplomacy: The Holy See’s relations with the Italian state by Giovanni Maria Vian (Domani)
Lord of the World / “He was now going to one of two things — ignominy or death” by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson
Vatican Watch / A day-by-day chronicle of Vatican events: October, November and December 2023 by Matthew Trojacek
People / Josephine Bakhita; Daniel Ortega; cardinal’s miracle; ‘Sinicization’ bishop; Baby Indi by Matthew Trojacek
Food / Lenten Dishes of Rome by ITV staff
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