Pope funerals are more than just religious ceremonies. They create rare encounters – even between leaders of conflicting states. What potential does the funeral of Pope Francis have? “The funeral of a pope is no ordinary event,” says historian René Schlott. It is a religious and at the same time highly political moment, staged on…
Cardinal Schönborn from Vienna, himself a candidate for decades and recently retired, formulates requirements for the next pope. And reveals how he personally experienced the late Francis. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn from Vienna does not believe that anyone is suitable for the papacy for 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. It would be too much of a challenge…
It is not only in Christian countries that the dead Pope is being honoured. In Muslim Jordan, too, flags of mourning are being flown today and over the next few days. The flags at Jordan’s state and public institutions have been flying at half-mast since Tuesday. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered a three-day flag of…
A boy dies of leukaemia at 15. Now Carlo Acutis is canonised because he was pious and socially committed. In addition to enthusiasm, the early honour also triggers criticism, even because of alleged anti-Semitism. The brown-haired boy in the red polo shirt smiles somewhat shyly into the camera, carrying a rucksack over his shoulders. Carlo…
This year, Christians in Rome, Istanbul and Moscow are celebrating Easter on the same day. In other years it is different: different church calendars are to blame. Now the Vatican is making a new push to change this. Question: Cardinal Koch, this year Christians all over the world are celebrating Easter on the same day.…
Two are currently being canonised; the third was good for political miracles throughout his life. The united Europe, whose spiritual strength is once again in demand, rests on the shoulders of men of Christian conviction. The existence of the EU, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, can be traced back to the foresight of Christian…
Even when cases of abuse are dutifully reported to Rome, the diocese of Würzburg has often had to decide for itself how to proceed in the past. Bishop Jung of Würzburg would like to see more concrete action. Bishop Franz Jung of Würzburg has criticised the way the Vatican’s religious authority deals with cases of…
Child protection expert Hans Zollner warns: Bishops must not hide behind legal deadlines. The Church must deal openly with cases of abuse and must not undermine its moral standards. The German child protection expert Hans Zollner appeals to the moral duty of church representatives when dealing with abuse. The Church must not forget that it…
The Rupnik case continues to shake the Vatican and the Jesuit order to this day. The priest and artist is alleged to have sexually and spiritually abused numerous women. The trial against him is progressing slowly. The head of the worldwide Jesuit order is hoping for a swift conclusion to the Vatican proceedings against the…
Criticism of the Catholic Church: victims of abuse are demanding a different system of compensation. The Bishops’ Conference’s Advisory Council for Victims has now reiterated this demand. The Advisory Council of Victims of Abuse at the German Bishops’ Conference has criticised the voluntary church system of compensation. It may seem like a lot when Conference…