http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/benedictxvi/ en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:14:10 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2414777/posts Here below in full, B16's homily at tonight's Christmas Mass: Dear Brothers and Sisters! "A child is born for us, a son is given to us" (Is 9:5). What Isaiah prophesied as he gazed into the future from afar, consoling Israel amid its trials and its darkness, is now proclaimed to the shepherds as a present reality by the Angel, from whom a cloud of light streams forth: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:11). The Lord is here. From this moment, God is truly "God with... Whispers in the Loggia http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2414777/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:14:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413182/posts At this time, as the possible canonization of Pope Pius XII moves forward, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum repeats its call for the opening of all wartime material from the Vatican archives, so that scholars can finally begin the important work of examining and evaluating this crucial aspect of history. The response of Eugenio Pacelli (Pope Pius XII) to the policies of the National Socialist regime - notably his failure to condemn publicly the genocide of the European Jews - has long been the topic of debate and controversy. At the time of the Holocaust, questions about Pius XII’s... Society and Religion http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413182/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:16:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2410336/posts The Pope has refused a traditional procession and palace banquet during his state visit to Britain next year. The Vatican has said it does not want any of the pomp which usually accompanies such a trip. And, although Pope Benedict XVI will be a guest of the queen, he will not stay at Buckingham Palace, but instead with his Ambassador to the Court of St James, the Apostolic Nuncio, at his house in Wimbledon, south-west London. During his three-day visit from September 16 to 19, the Pope has confirmed he will not be visiting Ireland. Daily Mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2410336/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:53:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409537/posts VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2009 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following English-language communique at midday today: "For a number of years the Church has followed with great concern the difficulties caused by the regrettable conduct of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo. Many attempts have been made to bring Archbishop Milingo back into communion with the Catholic Church, including the consideration of suitable ways to enable him to exercise the episcopal ministry. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI were directly involved in those efforts and both Popes personally followed the case of Archbishop Milingo in a spirit... The Holy See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409537/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:52:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409977/posts VATICAN CITY, DEC. 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).- A 12th-century scholar has a lesson for today on what makes for fair and equal treatment in law, Benedict XVI says.The Pope proposed today during the general audience the teaching of John of Salisbury, an English theologian and philosopher who served as bishop of Chartres, France, from 1176 until he died in 1180.The Holy Father explained how John taught that "there also exists an objective and immutable truth, whose origin is God, accessible to human reason. This truth regards practical and social actions. This is a natural law, from which human laws and political... zna http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409977/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:54:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409140/posts The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- In a Wednesday address, Pope Benedict XVI spoke out against abortion, euthanasia, and casual genetic testing that could lead to abortion decisions. The pontiff said more legislation is needed to protect human life form these very real threats and that laws are only just when they protect the vulnerable. The only just laws "are those laws that safeguard the sacredness of human life and reject the acceptance of abortion, euthanasia and unrestrained genetic experiments," Benedict said. Failure to recognize a respect for human life in the law leads to a "dictatorship of relativism which does not... Life News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409140/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:56:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409017/posts Pope Benedict XVI Rome, Italy, Dec 16, 2009 / 02:18 pm (CNA).- “The Pope denounces the ecological crisis but does not belong to the church of Al Gore," wrote Giuliano Ferrara, director of Italian daily Il Foglio, in his editorial column after reading Benedict XVI's message for the World Day of Peace.  Ferrara described the papal message as being "of great culture" in its reminder that man must be valued above all other living things.The Pontiff's message underscores the threats to the environment and the necessity of taking decisive action to find long-term, inter-generational solutions to the crises of today. ... cna http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409017/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:09:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407978/posts Pope Benedict XVI called for urgent action to protect the environment, saying Tuesday that climate change and natural catastrophes threaten the rights to life, food, health — and ultimately peace. In his annual message on the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Peace, the pope argued that the world's economic, social, and environmental problems are moral crises that require mankind to rethink its way of living. "We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new life-styles," he said, touching again on a theme that has earned him a reputation as the "green pope."... Yahoo! News (AP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407978/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:16:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2404341/posts On Rupert of Deutz "We Can Also, Each One in His Own Way, Find the Lord Jesus" VATICAN CITY, DEC. 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in Paul VI Hall. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today we come to know another Benedictine monk of the 12th century. His name is Rupert of Deutz, a city near Cologne, headquarters of a famous monastery. Rupert himself speaks of his life in one of his most important works, "The Glory and Honor of the Son of Man," which is... Zenit News Agency http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2404341/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:23:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2402057/posts WASHINGTON, D.C. (YBH.ME) – During the premier broadcast tonight of Robin Williams’ new HBO special, the franticly quick-witted comic referred to Pope Benedict XVI as a Nazi. The show, entitled “Weapons of Self Destruction,” was filmed in Washington, D.C. in November. The remark came at around the 1:12 mark of the ninety minute performance. Mr. Williams was doing a bit about the selection of a new Pope after Pope John Paul II died in 2005 and flatly referred to the current Pope as a Nazi. Mr. Williams went on to talk about pedophilia within the church and likened the Pope’s... Yes, but however (blog) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2402057/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 16:12:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391962/posts VATICAN CITY - THE archbishop of Canterbury held his first talks on Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI since the Roman Catholic church's unprecedented invitation to disaffected Anglicans, with the Vatican saying the two sides still want to press ahead for closer relations. Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict met privately for 20 minutes in what the Vatican called 'cordial discussions', as part of what has clearly been a difficult visit by the Anglican leader. The Vatican said in a brief statement that the two leaders 'turned to the challenges facing all Christian communities' and the need 'to promote forms... Straits Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391962/posts#comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:43:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2383345/posts Not many debut recording artists have the courage to make a concept album. But it would be fair to say that Pope Benedict XVI has ideological weight behind his Alma Mater, formed around the chants that have been intoned in St Peter’s Basilica for centuries. The Pope’s Christmas album, released on November 29, is the first record to feature a singing pontiff and is likely to give the likes of Bob Dylan, Sting and Tori Amos — all hoping for seasonal success this year — a run for their money. Alma Mater could be an even bigger hit than Abba... Times Online UK http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2383345/posts#comment Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:23:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378433/posts Pope Invites Tony Blair To Vatican Summit To Discuss Church's Fears That Politics Is Losing Its Religion By Nick Pisa November 2009 Catholic convert Tony Blair is among several world leaders being invited to attend a top level summit with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the role of the Church in politics. The two-day summit will be held at the Vatican and will include other Catholic politicians from all over the world, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. vice president Joe Biden, former Spanish PM Jose Maria Aznar, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Church officials have been quietly working... Daily Mail (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378433/posts#comment Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:34:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2373264/posts ROME (CNS) -- Dissident theologian Father Hans Kung criticized Pope Benedict XVI for his recent opening to discontented Anglicans, charging the pope was "fishing" for the most conservative Christians to the detriment of the larger church. Father Kung said the invitation to traditionalist Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church went against years of ecumenical work on the part of both churches, calling it instead "a nonecumenical piracy of priests." The pope's basic message is: "Traditionalists of all churches, unite under the dome of St. Peter's!" Father Kung wrote in an editorial Oct. 28 in the Rome daily La Repubblica.... cns http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2373264/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:19:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2371429/posts David Gibson's head appears to be spinning over at The Washington Post: When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope in April 2005, all the world rejoiced -- or recoiled -- with the certain knowledge that the cardinals had settled on the one man who would be more conservative than John Paul II. <snip> Thus far, Benedict's papacy has been one of constant movement and change, the sort of dynamic that liberal Catholics -- or Protestants -- are usually criticized for pursuing. In Benedict's case, this liberalism serves a conservative agenda. But his activism should not be surprising: As a sharp... Insight Scoop http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2371429/posts#comment Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:43:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2369200/posts Pope Benedict has sure gotten the ball rolling and it seems others want to get into the ecumenical action! Thanks to A Catholic Knight on this one: A Bulgarian Orthodox prelate told Benedict XVI of his desire for unity, and his commitment to accelerate communion with the Catholic Church. At the end of Wednesday's general audience, Bishop Tichon, head of the diocese for Central and Western Europe of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, stated to the Pope, "We must find unity as soon as possible and finally celebrate together," L'Osservatore Romano reported. "People don't understand our divisions and our discussions," the... Da Mihi http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2369200/posts#comment Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:05:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2368781/posts Santiago, Chile, Oct 22, 2009 / 01:03 pm (CNA).- In an interview with the Chilean daily, “El Mercurio,” the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, Bernard Fellay, acknowledged that the Vatican is considering the possibility of converting the Lefebvrist group into a personal prelature as part of the discussions aimed at bringing about reconciliation. Fellay, who visited members of the SSPX movement in Chile, is one of four bishops whose excommunication was lifted by Pope Benedict XVI last January. Asked about the speculation that the Society of Pius X could be made into a personal prelature similar... cna http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2368781/posts#comment Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:24:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2366396/posts from Damian Thompson: The Vatican has announced that Pope Benedict is setting up special provision for Anglicans, including married clergy, who want to convert to Rome together, preserving aspects of Anglican liturgy. They will be given their own pastoral supervision, according to this press release from the Vatican: “In this Apostolic Constitution the Holy Father has introduced a canonical structure that provides for such corporate reunion by establishing Personal Ordinariates which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony.” Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2366396/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:50:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2353787/posts Vatican efforts to reduce incense emissions have proven largely unsuccessful. American Papist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2353787/posts#comment Fri, 2 Oct 2009 23:00:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2351699/posts Berlin, Sept 29 (CTK) - Pope Benedict XVI has won great respect in the atheist Czech Republic, the German daily Die Welt wrote Tuesday commenting on the Pope's visit to the country on September 26-28.Public Czech Television's (CT) cameras followed almost every move by Benedict XVI during his three-day visit to the Czech Republic, the daily says.The Pope managed to raise enthusiasm among young people and he even won respect of Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Die Welt wrote."Judging by the space provided by Czech Television to the coverage of Benedict XVI's visit it could seem that the Pope visited a... Prague Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2351699/posts#comment Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:56:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2349060/posts Pope Benedict XVI sought to reach out to the heavily secular people of the Czech Republic on Saturday, decrying the "wounds" left by atheistic communism and urging them to rediscover their Christian roots. ...Benedict said Christianity has an "irreplaceable role" to play in their lives. The Czech Republic is one of the most secular countries in Europe, with nearly half the country professing to be non-believers.... Vatican organizers are hoping for a crowd of up to 200,000 people for the pope's Sunday Mass in Brno, in the Catholic heartland of the Czech Republic.... The [papal vespers] service was held in... Yahoo! News (AP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2349060/posts#comment Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:37:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2346432/posts Pope Benedict XVI is to visit the UK in January 2010, the BBC has learned. It will be the first papal visit to Britain since 1982, when Pope John Paul II's six-day tour drew huge crowds. Then, masses were held in cities including Cardiff, London.... and Edinburgh. BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2346432/posts#comment Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:04:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2339447/posts VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI's second volume on the life of Jesus is likely to be completed sometime next spring, a Vatican spokesman said. The book is expected to cover Christ's childhood, passion, death and resurrection. The first volume, the best-selling "Jesus of Nazareth," was published in 2007. The spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, told Catholic News Service Sept. 13 that next spring was a "realistic" target date for completion. He added that readying the manuscript for publication and translating it into other languages could add to the timeline, however. The pope has been working on the volume over... CNS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2339447/posts#comment Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:05:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2332208/posts St. Augustine of Hippo Rome, Italy, Sep 4, 2009 / 10:08 am (CNA).- In a letter he sent Thursday to Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity,  Pope Benedict XVI has underscored that the teachings of St. Augustine are a path seeking unity with the Orthodox. The message from the Pope was sent to Cardinal Kasper as the 11th Inter-Christian Symposium gathered in Rome. The meeting was organized by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical University Antonianum and the Aristotle Orthodox Theological Faculty of Thessalonica.In his message, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude... cna http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2332208/posts#comment Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:48:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2328002/posts Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Aug 30, 2009 / 11:14 am (CNA).- At Sunday’s Angelus prayer in the courtyard of Castel Gandolfo’s apostolic palace, Pope Benedict XVI recalled the previous week’s liturgical memorial of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo and model and patron of Christian mothers. “Much is recounted about her in her son’s autobiography ‘The Confessions,’ a masterpiece among the most read works of all time,” Pope Benedict said. “There, we understand that St. Augustine imbibed the name of Jesus with maternal milk and was educated in the Christian religion by his mother, the principles of which... cna http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2328002/posts#comment Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:43:51 GMT