http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/benedict/ en-us Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:25:18 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2052240/posts Castel Gandolfo, Jul. 25, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki met with Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) on July 25 at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Benedict underscored his concern about the Christian minority in Iraq during the conversation. A Vatican statement released after the meeting noted that the Holy Father had decried the continuing violence in Iraq and pointed out that the bloodshed has taken a heavy toll on "the Christian communities which strongly feel the need for greater security." The Pope also spoke about the needs of Iraqi refugees and-- returning... CWNews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2052240/posts#comment Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:25:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2031299/posts The traditional Latin Mass – effectively banned by Rome for 40 years – is to be reintroduced into every Roman Catholic parish in England and Wales, the senior Vatican cardinal in charge of Latin liturgy said at a press conference in London today. In addition, all seminaries will be required to teach trainee priests how to say the old Mass so that they can celebrate it in all parishes. Catholic congregations throughout the world will receive special instruction on how to appreciate the old services, formerly known as the Tridentine Rite. The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2031299/posts#comment Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:51:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2017828/posts There’s an urban legend making the rounds about Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States. The story goes that Vice-President Cheney asked the pontiff what he’s been reading. The Holy Father replied that he’s been researching “the Arian heresy.” Cheney, thinking the pope meant “Aryan,” said, “That must be interesting for you, since you lived through it. And Benedict responded, “I’m old, but I’m not that old.” It’s a funny story, and I’m told it appeared in the London Times. But I’m afraid I couldn’t find confirmation anywhere on the Web. So I went over the head of the World... Fathers of the Church http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2017828/posts#comment Sun, 18 May 2008 23:26:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2013717/posts [This article by Jim Akin is a good companion to the previous post about Arch-Tame Wuerl. Jim is director of apologetics and evangelization at "Catholic Answers" and is a contributing editor of This Rock. --PP] Abortion Is the Black Hole of Moral Issues A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate’s permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia. When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia but votes... The Priestly Pugilist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2013717/posts#comment Fri, 9 May 2008 19:08:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2011282/posts VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict is expected to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams on Monday in only the second official meeting between the two religious leaders, a Vatican source said on Sunday. The meeting comes less than two months after the Vatican's top officials for relations with Islam criticised Williams as mistaken and naive for suggesting that some aspects of Sharia law in Britain were unavoidable. The spiritual leader for the world's 77 million Anglicans, Williams -- who sparked a political storm with the Sharia comments -- last held talks with the Pope in November 2006. Ties... Reuters UK http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2011282/posts#comment Mon, 5 May 2008 02:55:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2010580/posts ROME (AFP) — The Vatican on Friday dismissed the US newsweekly Time's annual list of the world's 100 most influential people as "bizarre and arbitrary," saying the Holy See was pleased that the pope was not included. "I am happy about this absence (of Pope Benedict XVI) from the list, whose composition is kind of bizarre and arbitrary," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told AFP. Lombardi said he doubted whether the magazine took fully into account the pope's spiritual and moral authority. This year's list does include the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as well as the patriarch of the... AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2010580/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 04:35:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2009332/posts Vatican City, Apr 30, 2008 / 04:06 pm (CNA).- Following today's general audience, Benedict XVI received a group of Iranian Muslims who have been meeting biannually for the last 12 years with the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. The dialogue between the Vatican and the Muslim group resulted in an agreement on faith and reason, violence and religion and the method for dialogue. The Vatican is being represented in the discussions by a delegation led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, while the president of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization of Tehran, Iran is leading their group. Representatives from both groups... Catholic News Agency http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2009332/posts#comment Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:53:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2008782/posts Paris, Apr 29, 2008 / 12:37 pm (CNA).- The Bishops’ Conference of France has officially announced that Pope Benedict XVI will travel to France for the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions that took place in Lourdes. The trip, which is scheduled for September 12-15, 2008, will begin with a greeting by French officials after which the Holy Father will head to the College des Bernardins where he will address the “world of culture.”  Then the Pope will pray vespers at the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  Following the prayer service, he will address young people gathered at the Cathedral.  On... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2008782/posts#comment Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:41:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2008037/posts VATICAN CITY, APRIL 27, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Rumors suggesting that Benedict XVI's health is failing are "baseless," confirmed the Vatican. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, said this in statements to the press after the French newspaper Le Figaro published an article Saturday that raised questions regarding the Pontiff's health. The report also speculated on future successors to the papacy. The spokesman said the article's assertions, published less than one week after the Pontiff ended his five-day apostolic trip to the United States, were "paradoxical.” “Benedict XVI is well and it is paradoxical that doubts about his... ZNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2008037/posts#comment Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:16:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007941/posts In the aftermath of the U.S. visit by Pope Benedict XVI, traditional Catholics are asking a troublesome question: Did pro-choice politicians receiving Communion at the papal Masses indicate the pope had softened on the abortion question? The answer is no. On the contrary, it reflected disobedience to Benedict by the archbishops of New York and Washington. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sens. John Kerry, Christopher Dodd and Edward M. Kennedy received Communion at Nationals Park in Washington, as did former mayor Rudolph Giuliani at Yankee Stadium in New York. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington and Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop of... Primetime Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007941/posts#comment Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:17:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2005586/posts Their names are Shadow, Butch, Misty, Rusty, Sparky, Sunshine, Esther, Marty and Spunky. They are cats, some former strays, some tiger-striped. But to Jan Fredericks of Wayne, N.J., they are family, they are God’s creatures and deserving of compassion. And in Pope Benedict XVI, Ms. Fredericks, the chairwoman of the fledgling American branch of Catholic Concern for Animals, believes that she has found a kindred spirit: Along with an enormous entourage and a message of peace, the Pope brought with him to the United States a lifelong love of cats. New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2005586/posts#comment Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:25:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2005433/posts On Sunday 20 April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI visited the site of the terrorist attack in New York City, 11 September 2001. While there he offered the following prayer.O God of love, compassion, and healing,look on us, people of many different faithsand traditions,who gather today at this site,the scene of incredible violence and pain. We ask you in your goodnessto give eternal light and peaceto all who died here —the heroic first-responders:our fire fighters, police officers,emergency service workers, andPort Authority personnel,along with all the innocent men and womenwho were victims of this tragedysimply because their work or servicebrought them here... EWTN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2005433/posts#comment Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:11:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2005290/posts The White House welcoming ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI to America was truly inspiring. The U.S. Army band and chorus performed an amazing rendition of the Battle Hyman of the Republic. The Pope spoke about the greatness of America. On Sunday I was the emcee at Springfest, a family fun festival in Deltona, Florida. Deltona is the fulfillment of MLK's dream where blacks, whites, Hispanics and others live and play together. Inspired by the tremendous celebration of God and country at the White House, I felt compelled to do the same at Springfest. I asked the Sheriff's dept. motorcycle officers... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2005290/posts#comment Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:23:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004495/posts NEW YORK CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI will always have his detractors, but even his toughest critics will admit that this past week the aging pontiff brought the need to heal the clergy sex abuse crisis high up onto his papal platform.Whether one believes that reform is coming or that Benedict’s speeches are merely words on a page, the pontiff has confronted the thorny issue in ways that defied expectations.Before the Holy Father set foot on American soil, he told reporters aboard the papal airplane that pedophile priests left him “deeply ashamed.” During his homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral... Boston Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004495/posts#comment Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:52:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004369/posts - Pope Benedict XVI, nearing the end of his six-day trip to the United States, opened a rare window yesterday evening into his own struggles as a child in Nazi Germany, telling a large rally of seminarians and young Catholics that his difficulties in that era helped him understand the challenges that young people face. (snip) "My own years as a teenager were marred by a sinister regime that thought it had all the answers," he told the seminarians and young people outside St. Joseph's Seminary, in the Dunwoodie section of Yonkers. "Its influence grew, infiltrating schools and civic bodies,... Boston Globe http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004369/posts#comment Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:27:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004220/posts Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out for the first time about growing up under the "monster" of Nazism. Speaking at a youth rally in New York, the German-born pontiff said his teenager years had been "marred by a sinister regime". Earlier, during a Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan he spoke out again about the suffering of victims of paedophile Catholic priests. On Sunday, he is due to visit the scene of the 9/11 attacks in New York. Pope Benedict's tour of the US is his first visit to the country since being elected head of the Catholic Church... BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004220/posts#comment Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:39:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2004187/posts Washington DC, Apr 19, 2008 / 01:05 pm (CNA).- The President of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Father Terence Henry, TOR, has given his reaction to Catholic News Agency on the Pope’s message to Catholic university leaders. Father Henry said that he believes Pope Benedict’s address taught that authentic Catholic education “springs from the heart of the Church.” Father Henry was particularly struck by Pope Benedict’s idea that Catholic institutions are “instruments of hope” to the world and to young people. “There are some out there who think that authentic freedom means to speculate on everything under the sun,” Father Henry... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2004187/posts#comment Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:36:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2003769/posts "One of the blessings of being the President is I get to see firsthand how people are motivated by the fundamental truths articulated by the Holy Father." Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2003769/posts#comment Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:44:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003510/posts For 25 remarkable minutes, the shepherd of the world's 1 billion Catholics met with a handful of victims in the worst scandal to ever tarnish the U.S. church. One man, abused as an altar boy, said he placed his hand over Pope Benedict XVI's heart as he pleaded with him to fix the problem of sexual abuse of minors. The pontiff apologized to his guests for not being perfectly fluent in English, and "for everything," according to another victim. Plans for the secret meeting were kept quiet. But two Boston-area victims of abuse shared details of the meeting in interviews... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003510/posts#comment Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:50:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2002713/posts RightNation.US member lyria checked out the scene as the visiting Benedict XVI made his way through the nation's capitol today. According to a delightfully hilarious post by lyria, the hawkers were strange enough, but: The real show was the protesters. I love a good freakshow. When I heard the angry voice through the bullhorn, I was expecting a gay rights group, a reproductive rights group, or maybe something about female ordination or the pedophilia scandals. No..... They were protesting the existence of Catholicism. No, really, they were. I am not joking. Once I realized it, I started looking for the... MainstreamConservative.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2002713/posts#comment Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:13:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002013/posts Pope Benedict XVI, the Vicar of Christ, the 265th Successor of Peter, Shepperd of the Church founded by Jesus Christ, has arrived in the United States of American, landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Bethesda, Maryland at 1558 hours. The Holy Father was greeted by U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura. He is the first world leader that President Bush has ever greeted on the tarmac upon arrival in the United States. Details of the Holy Father's visit can be found at: Christ Our Hope: Pope Benedict XVI Apostolic Journey to the United States EWTN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002013/posts#comment Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:59:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002063/posts Pope Benedict has arrived in the U.S. The pontiff's plane, named "Shepherd One", landed at Andrews Air Force Base just before 10 in the morning Hawaii time. The President, first lady, and their daughter Jenna greeted him as he walked out of the plane. It is the first time the president has met a foreign leader at the Maryland base. This is Pope Benedict's first visit to the U.S. as the pontiff. He will be only the second to visit the White House. His trip tomorrow will mark his 81st birthday. He will hold a papal mass in Washington Thursday,... KGMB http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002063/posts#comment Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:10:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2001859/posts He's coming! Associated Press, filing its report from the airborne Shepherd One [picture], has the first coverage: "Vatican officials selected four questions to be read by the journalists to the pontiff aboard the plane." BBC Quotes him as saying: "It is more important to have good priests than many priests." The pope usually conducts a press conference aboard the plane when he on a long flight. There had been some talk that he might cancel it this time rather than go through what happened in Brazil again - where a comment of his sparked a frenzy of (confused) debate... American Papist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2001859/posts#comment Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:52:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002176/posts Today the President signed the Honor of Education and Sharing Day Proclamation. Also today the President presented the Lifetime President's Volunteer Service Award to Chick fil-A Inc. founder Truett Cathy. The President met the Pope at Andrews Airforce Base the first time during his Presidency that he has gone to Andrews Airforce to welcome an overseas dignitary. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2770 Today Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testified before the House Armed Services Committee. Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island www.yahoo.com/news www.whitehouse.gov/news http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002176/posts#comment Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:41:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002160/posts THREE years ago, in the final weeks of Pope John Paul II's papacy, the Vatican's diplomatic service took great care to distance the Catholic Church from American foreign policy, in order to protect Christians in mainly Muslim lands from being tarred with the same brush as the Bush administration. But as his successor Pope Benedict XVI arrives on Tuesday April 15th for a five-day trip to the United States, the gap between the Vatican and America seems to have narrowed a great deal. The Vatican fear that Middle Eastern Christians would pay a high price for the perceived misdeeds of... The Economist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002160/posts#comment Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:14:57 GMT