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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II stories: 15 news summaries

John Paul II's Attacker Wants Vatican Baptism

Man who shot pontiff seeks ceremony after prison release

May 13, 09 1:46 PM CDT
(Newser) - The man who shot Pope John Paul II gets out of prison in January—and when he does, he wants to be baptized at the Vatican, his lawyer says. Over the years, Mehmet Ali Agca has claimed to be the Messiah or Jesus Christ, fueling speculation about his mental health... More »

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Christianity • Vatican • Pope John Paul II • assassination attempt • conversion • baptism • Mehmet Ali Agca

 UK Bans Ad With Lusty 'Pope' 

It caused 'serious offense,' ad council rules

Apr 2, 09 4:02 AM CDT
(Newser) - A British advertising commission has blocked the use of a dancing, beer-guzzling photo-manipulated "Pope John Paul II" in an advertisement promoting a nightclub, reports the Telegraph. "It was hugely offensive," said a spokeswoman for a Polish organization, one of several Catholics who complained about the brochure. "... More »

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advertising • censorship • religion • nightclub • Britain • Catholic • Pope John Paul II • freedom of speech

(AP) - A 19th-century Belgian priest who ministered to leprosy patients in Hawaii will be declared a saint October 11, the AP reports. In July, Pope Benedict XVI approved a miracle attributed to Rev. Damien de Veuster's intercession, declaring that a Honolulu woman's recovery in 1999 from terminal lung cancer was the... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI • Vatican • Hawaii • Pope John Paul II • beatification • sainthood • Catholic priest • leprosy

John Paul Wounded in '82 Stabbing by Priest

Testimony reveals pope sustained injuries, covered up by Rome, in attack at Fatima

Oct 15, 08 5:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - Pope John Paul II was injured in a 1982 stabbing by a crazed priest, but the wound was kept secret until now, Reuters reports. The late pontiff was visiting a shrine in Portugal to give thanks for surviving an earlier assassination attempt when an ultra-conservative Spanish priest lunged at him... More »

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documentary • Catholicism • priest • Pope John Paul II • assassination attempt

Vatican Debates Paying Tribute
to Galileo

Heretic remains a touchy subject in Catholic Church

Aug 28, 08 12:58 PM CDT
(Newser) - Galileo Galilei is riling the Catholic church yet again, the Wall Street Journal reports, as an anonymous donor has offered to pay to erect a statue in the Vatican of Catholicism’s most famous heretic. But though the church has come around on science, Galileo remains a touchy subject. He’... More »

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astronomy • Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • science • Vatican • Galileo • Pope John Paul II

Vatican Mulls
the Case for
St. John Paul II

Even a beloved pope has to wait to see if he's sainthood material

Jun 2, 08 8:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - He may have served as the spiritual leader for millions of Catholics for more than 26 years, but the soul of Pope John II is under intense scrutiny in Rome. The Washington Post takes a look at the office charged with determining whether the beloved pontiff is eligible for sainthood—... More »

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Italy • Rome • Pope John Paul II • beatification • sainthood

UPDATED

 'Monumental' US Visit Ahead 

Unprecedented presidential welcome kick off Pope's jam-packed itinerary

Apr 15, 08 5:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Today's arrival of Pope Benedict XVI "had the look and feel of a monumental and historic event," a CNN correspondent notes—and the six-day visit will indeed be eventful. Benedict will speak to US Catholic leadership tomorrow after a welcoming ceremony at the White House, then visit the... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Vatican • priest sex abuse • Pope John Paul II • Catholics • Pope Benedict's US visit

opinion

Benedict the Right Pope
for Right Now: Noonan

Internet pontiff succeeds TV phenomenon

Apr 11, 08 1:16 PM CDT
(Newser) - John Paul II was an incredible Pope, but Benedict might be just what the world needs today, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal. Benedict, who "lacks an immediately accessible flair," succeeded a telegenic "showman" who brought joy to the faithful. "John Paul... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI • religion • Catholicism • Pope John Paul II • Peggy Noonan

'Saint Factory' Slows Down Production

New Vatican rules
will make getting
a halo a little harder

Feb 19, 08 11:57 AM CST
(Newser) - The Vatican is moving to slow traffic on the road to sainthood, the BBC reports. Critics accused the Vatican of becoming a "saint factory" under the late Pope John Paul II, who created more saints than all his predecessors combined. The new, more rigorous guidelines under Benedict XVI require... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI • Vatican • Pope John Paul II • beatification • sainthood

Top Mormon Leader Hinckley Dead at 97

President-prophet brought church closer to American mainstream

Jan 28, 08 3:55 AM CST
(Newser) - Gordon B. Hinckley, at 97 the longest-lived president-prophet in the history of the Mormon church, died yesterday of complications of old age. Hinckley, whose energy and extensive world travels earned comparisons to Pope John Paul II, oversaw his church for 12 years during an era of unprecedented growth, the Los ... More »

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obituary • Utah • Mormon • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Pope John Paul II • Gordon B. Hinckley

Pope Rips Christmas Materialism

Continues Vatican battle against rampant consumerism

Dec 9, 07 12:36 PM CST
(Newser) - Continuing the Vatican's battle against rampant consumerism on the occasion of Jesus' birthday, Pope Benedict XVI today blasted a pervasive "materialistic mentality" in "the way of living out and perceiving Christmas." The pontiff urged pilgrims gathered below his window on St. Peter's Square instead to "fill... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Rome • Vatican • Christmas • Pope John Paul II • commercialism

Pope Will Visit US in April

Pontiff will go to DC, Ground Zero, Yankee Stadium

Nov 12, 07 1:10 PM CST
(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI will travel to the US in April, visiting the White House, Ground Zero, and the United Nations, the Washington Post reports. On his first trip to the country as pope, and the first papal visit since John Paul II's stop in St. Louis in 1999, he'll say... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI • Ground Zero • Vatican • Yankee Stadium • Pope John Paul II • Pope Benedict's US visit

Pope's Robe Shredded For Relics

100,000 fragments available online for a donation

Sep 25, 07 3:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - A white robe worn by Pope John Paul II has been cut into 100,000 tiny fragments which are being distributed for donations as religious relics to aid prayer and achieve miracles, reports the London Times. The operation is run by the Diocese of Rome and is causing concern... More »

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Vatican • Pope John Paul II • cassock • relics • beatification • sainthood • Vicariate of Rome • Bishop Velasio De Paolis • simony • Father Marco Fibbi • miracle

Did Docs Speed Pope's Death?

Doctor claims euthanasia was behind John Paul II’s death

Sep 23, 07 5:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - An Italian doctor is claiming that Pope John Paul II’s 2005 death was hastened by measures that would qualify as euthanasia—a practice the Catholic Church condemns. She believes the Vatican stressed the Pope’s breathing problems in public reports to conceal the real threat to his life, which... More »

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Catholic Church • Vatican • Pope John Paul II

Website Helps Speed Sainthood

Devotees can offer prayer or donation via a Vatican-maintained site

Sep 22, 07 9:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Vatican has invited followers of John Paul II  to offer prayers and donations to boost the process of making him a saint . A website set up for that purpose gives visitors the opportunity to see the late pontiff''s tomb via the 24-hour webcam and request pieces of the popular... More »

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Vatican • Pope John Paul II

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