My spiritual testament When, at this late hour of my life, I look back on the decades I have wandered through, I see first of all how much reason I have to give thanks. Above all, I thank God himself, the giver of all good gifts, who has given me life and guided me through…
‘Vivid’ history of women religious launched A “vivid” account of the experience of women religious in Ireland from 1530-1700 was launched at the Poor Clare Monastery, Galway, recently. The book, Irish Women in Religious Orders, 1530-1700, is the first comprehensive study of the lives and experiences of women religious for that period and shows how…
The consecrated women who cared for Pope Benedict XVI in his retirement gently stroked his hands before his body was carried on a red-covered stretcher to a van for its last journey to St. Peter’s Basilica. The women, members of Memores Domini, along with Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the late Pope’s personal secretary, and Dr Patrizio…
The President, Taoiseach and Tánaiste have led Irish tributes to the late Pope Benedict XVI, who died this morning. President Michael D. Higgins said in his message that Benedict will be remembered for “his untiring efforts to find a common path in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world”, including for maintaining a “steadfast interest”…
Just a few hours after retired Pope Benedict XVI died in his Vatican residence December 31, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, provided a few early details of what to expect in the coming days. The 95-year-old pope’s remains will be in St Peter’s Basilica beginning the morning of January 2 for people…
Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI called for “urgent action” to address the crisis of abuse by clergy in the Church in Ireland, the Primate of All-Ireland has said. His comments come following the news that the former pope died this morning. Archbishop Eamon Martin said he was “saddened”, remembering his “gentle soul in prayer, asking God, in…
Carol Glatz/CNS Here are some important events in the life of Pope Benedict XVI. April 16, 1927: Joseph Ratzinger is born in Marktl am Inn, Germany. 1945: With World War II ending, the 18-year-old conscripted soldier deserts from the German army and is held briefly as a US prisoner of war. June 29, 1951: He…
The late Pope Benedict XVI’s disgust over the abuse scandals marring the Church was made evident even before his election as pope. In his forceful Way of the Cross meditations, drafted in the weeks before his election as pope in 2005, he wrote for the world to hear: “How much filth there is in the…
Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who had an impressive record as a teacher and defender of the basics of Catholic faith, is likely to go down in history books as the first pope in almost 600 years to resign. He died December 31 at the age of 95, nearly 10 years after leaving the papacy to…
Cindy Wooden/CNS During his many years at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as well as during his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI made incisive contributions to the search for Christian unity, although some of his teaching also was read as ecumenically insensitive. While the late pope forged strong bonds of friendship and esteem…
Ruadhán Jones