Just days into the papacy of Leo XIV, the new pope has begun to lay out his vision for how he will lead the Catholic church. Like his predecessor, he plans to embrace the poor and the marginalized. He wants…
Tag: Benedict XVI
Cardinals Are Maneuvering Before Conclave To Elect Francis’ Successor
Even before Pope Francis was entombed in a Rome basilica on Saturday, conservative cardinals who felt his pontificate was a divisive disaster that endangered the church’s traditions had begun politicking to sway the conclave electing the next pope. They have…
Pope Francis, Who Sought a More Pastoral Church, Laid to Rest in a Majestic Ceremony
In a solemn and majestic funeral on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Roman Catholic Church on Saturday laid to rest Pope Francis, the first South American pope, whose simple style, pastoral vision and outsized footprint on the world…
What Happens After the Pope Dies? A Visual Timeline of Rituals and Traditions
The funeral for Pope Francis, who died on Monday, will follow a centuries-old tradition, with rituals spanning several days and a viewing of his body for mourners from around the world. Immediately After the Pope’s Death Inside the Vatican, the…
Catholics Around the Globe Heed Francis’ Call to ‘Pray for Me’
When Pope Francis first appeared to the world on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he humbly requested that the faithful “pray for me.” Those simple words became the punctuation marks of his pontificate, as he ended practically all his…
What Would the Church Say About End-of-Life Decisions for a Pope?
A respiratory crisis suffered by Pope Francis on Friday during his two-week hospitalization for pneumonia has added urgency to a delicate, and uncomfortable, question worrying many in the church: What would happen if the pope remains in critical condition for…
Speculation Grows Over Whether the Pope Will Resign
Earlier this week, two top Vatican officials made a secret visit to see Pope Francis in the hospital. At first, the Vatican said it had no information about the meeting but then confirmed it, explaining the two prelates had come…
Catholics Pray for Ailing Pope Francis at Sunday Mass
Roman Catholics worldwide prayed for Pope Francis, who is hospitalized in critical condition, at Mass on Sunday after the Vatican announced that he was “not out of danger.” The 88-year-old pontiff went into the hospital on Feb. 14 with an…