Pope Benedict XVI

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July 2008
- Boston Diocese Boots 'Women Priests'
  
  newser | Boston Globe | Jul 21, 08 9:08 AM CDT
  
  A group campaigning for women to be admitted to the Roman Catholic priesthood held a ceremony in a Protestant church in Boston yesterday in which three women were declared Catholic priests and a fourth a deacon. The Archdiocese of Boston immediately denounced the action and declared that the women had automatically excommunicated themselves by taking part in the unauthorized ordination, reports the Boston Globe . More »
- Pope to Kids: Spurn 'Spiritual Desert'
  
  newser | Associated Press | Jul 20, 08 9:11 AM CDT
  
  Pope Benedict XVI called on young Christians to revive spirituality by rejecting modern society's greed and materialism, AP reports. At a mass of 350,000 young pilgrims in Sydney, and a global TV audience of millions, the pope called for "a new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy, and self-absorption which deadens our souls." The mass concluded a six-day World Youth festival, which drew crowds from 160 countries. More »
- Pope Apologizes for 'Evil' Clergy Sex Abuse
  
  newser | Associated Press | Jul 19, 08 6:15 AM CDT
  
  Pope Benedict XVI used unusually strong language today in condemning the sexual abuse of children by Australia's Catholic clergy, reports the AP. The pontiff said the clergy's "grave betrayal of trust" had damaged the Catholic church. "I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured. I assure them as their pastor that I, too, share in their suffering," Benedict said during a mass in Sydney. "Those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice." More »
- Mickey Mouse Hat Doesn't Get Pope's Blessing
  
  newser | Reuters | Jul 18, 08 2:09 PM CDT
  
  Photographers, children and Disney executives were sorely disappointed this morning when Pope Benedict refused to don a black Mickey Mouse hat, complete with ears, in place of his usual white skullcap. A group from Orange County, Calif., presented Benedict with the getup during World Youth Day festivities in Australia, Reuters reports, but the pontiff politely passed the headgear to aides. More »
- Aussies May Have Slipped Pope a Cat
  
  newser | Associated Press | Jul 15, 08 1:23 PM CDT
  
  There’s a new papal mystery swirling around the Outback—is Pope Benedict hanging out with a borrowed kitten? Organizers of the Catholic youth festival say they gave Benedict a gray loaner named Bella to keep the cat-loving pontiff company during his Australian sojurn. But when pressed, a Vatican spokesman told the AP he had no knowledge of such a feline. More »
- Aussie Court Strikes Down Law Banning Pope Protests
  
  newser | Reuters | Jul 15, 08 3:25 AM CDT
  
  An Australian court has struck down a law aimed at curbing protests during Pope Benedict XVI's visit Down Under, reports Reuters. The law, ruled unconstitutional, had banned protesters from "annoying" those attending papal events. People handing out condoms or wearing anti-Pope t-shirts faced possible $5,000 fines. More »
- 'Go Green,' Pope Urges Youth
  
  newser | Sydney Morning Herald | Jul 14, 08 4:35 AM CDT
  
  The Pope yesterday called on the world—particularly young people—to combat global warming with "a style of life that eases problems caused to the environment," reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Pope Benedict issued his plea just minutes before touching down in Australia for an official visit. The Vatican is going green with a new solar power system. More »
- Pope Vows Abuse Apology in Australia
  
  newser | Reuters | Jul 13, 08 2:06 PM CDT
  
  Traveling to Sydney today, Pope Benedict promised to apologize for a sexual abuse scandal that has rocked Australia's Catholic Church, Reuters reports. He also vowed to ensure it never recurs, and to help Australian victims heal—but one victims' group still accuses the Church of covering up abuse by priests and ensuring they never go to trial. More »
- Weak Dollar Sends Vatican to $14.5M Loss
  
  newser | Guardian (UK) | Jul 11, 08 8:19 AM CDT
  
  The weak dollar has wreaked havoc on business across Europe, but one organization has posted a surprising loss: the Vatican. The Catholic Church blamed the declining greenback for its first loss in 4 years as it ended the year $14.5 million in the red. The Guardian reports on how the decline of the almighty dollar is hurting the house of the Almighty. More »
- Pope to Launch Bible Marathon for TV, Internet
  
  newser | Guardian (UK) | Jul 9, 08 10:12 PM CDT
  
  Pope Benedict XVI may not have the media cache of his predecessor, but he's working on it. The pontiff will kick off a six-day Bible-reading marathon that will be broadcast live on Italian television and the Internet this fall. The Guardian reports the pope will read aloud the first chapter of Genesis, then be followed by about 1,200 volunteers who will continue reading 'round the clock through Revelation. More »
June 2008
- Divorced Berlusconi Challenges Communion Ban
  
  newser | Guardian (UK) | Jun 23, 08 2:29 AM CDT
  
  Beleaguered Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi caused a scene in a church over the weekend, loudly demanding from a startled bishop in the middle of mass: "When are you going to change this rule that stops me taking communion?" Berlusconi, like other divorced Catholics who remarry, is banned from receiving the sacrament. The prime minister, who has been lobbying to halt his corruption trial, now has his sights set on Vatican policy, the Guardian reports. More »
- Rumors From Vatican: Bush May Convert
  
  newser | Daily Telegraph (UK) | Jun 14, 08 1:45 PM CDT
  
  President Bush visited Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican yesterday, sparking rumors that the president may convert to Catholicism, the Telegraph reports. They spoke in a garden where the pontiff prays daily, not in the library where Benedict greets most world leaders. “What an honor!” said Bush, who has been called the most “Catholic-minded” president since JFK. More »
May 2008
- Aussie Anglican Won't Make Nice for Papal Visit
  
  newser | Sydney Morning Herald | May 26, 08 1:09 PM CDT
  
  An influential Anglican cleric won’t be welcoming Pope Benedict to Australia with open arms. But the outspoken dean of Sydney, whose brother is the city's archbishop, says he has no trouble with the public funding that's going toward the pontiff's July visit. Phillip Jensen says he won’t be “going to see him or waving a flag,” but neither will he “pray for rain on his parade.” More »
- High-Tech Pope to World Youth: Bless U
  
  newser | Reuters | May 7, 08 8:18 AM CDT
  
  The Catholic Church is going digital. During July’s World Youth Day in Sydney, Pope Benedict will reach out to the 225,000 young Catholics in attendance by text message, "using new ways to connect with today's tech-savvy youth," a spokesman tells Reuters. More »
April 2008
- Benedict's US Trip Improved His Image
  
  newser | Reuters | Apr 30, 08 8:40 PM CDT
  
  Both the pontiff and the Catholic Church got an image boost following the pope's recent US visit, reports Reuters. A post-trip poll found that 61% of Americans, both Catholics and non-Catholics, believe the pope's 6-day stint met or exceeded their expectations; 65% now have a more positive view of Pope Benedict. More »
- No Rest for the ... Faithful? Italy's Padre Pio On Display
  
  newser | BBC | Apr 24, 08 7:35 PM CDT
  
  Beloved saint Padre Pio, exhumed in March after 40 years, is now on display in southern Italy, where 700,000 faithful have signed up to view his remains, BBC reports. The archbishop who ran the exhumation marveled at the body: “The knees, hands, mittens, and nails are clearly visible.” More »
- Pundit's Pontificating Draws Fire
  
  newser | Newsday | Apr 21, 08 11:58 AM CDT
  
  Not for the first time, people are calling for Bill Maher's head—in this case for taking pot shots at Pope Benedict XVI on his HBO show. "If you have a few hundred followers and you let some of them molest children, they call you a cult leader," Maher said. "If you have a billion, they call you 'pope.'" He also made a joke about the pontiff's membership in the Hitler Youth group as a child. More »
- To Animal Lovers, He's the Cat's Meow
  
  newser | New York Times | Apr 21, 08 9:54 AM CDT
  
  One group of Catholics who weren't surprised to see Pope Benedict XVI's "softer side" on his visit to the US are devout cat lovers. Benedict harbors a legendary fondness for felines; his house in Germany was filled with them, and in his former Vatican post he looked after cats who visited his building, the New York Times reports. And the affection goes both ways: a German cat wrote a children’s biography of the former Cardinal Ratzinger, with help from a journalist. More »
- Pope Benedict Leaves US After 6-Day Visit
  
  newser | USA Today | Apr 20, 08 10:31 PM CDT
  
  Pope Benedict XVI concluded his 6-day US visit today, boarding the papal jet at JFK aqirport to return to the Vatican. “The time has come for me to bid farewell to your country,” Benedict said. “May God bless America.” Dick Cheney attended the departure ceremony, which capped Benedict’s day of visiting Ground Zero and celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium. More »
- Benedict Brings Down the House That Ruth Built
  
  newser | New York Times | Apr 20, 08 3:20 PM CDT
  
  With pop music blaring and a roaring crowd, Yankee Stadium might have easily been hosting a rock concert today, reports the New York Times, rather than the rock star of Catholicism. The object of the adoration of 60,000 was Pope Benedict XVI, who finished up his US tour by celebrating the New York diocese's 200th anniversary and calling for Catholic unity in his homily. More »