Detroit — Comparing the historic departure of the pope to St. Paul’s final departure from Ephesus in the Book of Acts, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron led nearly 700 faithful in prayer Feb. 28 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament as the final bell tolled on the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. As the…
Monthly Archives: February 2013
The Vatican
In farewell to cardinals, Pope Benedict pledges obedience to next pope
by Guest Writer •
By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service Vatican City — The Clementine Hall is traditionally the place where cardinals bid farewell to popes at the end of a pontificate, but usually when the pope in question is lying in state before his funeral. But on Feb. 28, hours before resigning from the papacy, Pope Benedict…
Multimedia, The Vatican, Videos
VIDEO: Pope delivers personal, emotional farewell address at audience
by Guest Writer •
By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service Vatican City — On his last full day as pope, Pope Benedict XVI delivered an unusually personal and emotional farewell address, thanking the faithful around the world for their support and assuring them that he would remain in their service even in retirement. “I will continue to accompany…
The Vatican
Pope Benedict to be called ‘pope emeritus’ or ‘Roman pontiff emeritus’
by Guest Writer •
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Vatican City — Pope Benedict XVI will continue to be known as Pope Benedict and addressed as “His Holiness,” but after his resignation, he will add the title “emeritus” in one of two acceptable forms, either “pope emeritus” or “Roman pontiff emeritus.” Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said…
The Vatican
Pope changes conclave rules, allows cardinals to move up date
by Guest Writer •
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Vatican City — In his last week as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules for conclaves, including a clause that allows the College of Cardinals to move up the date for the beginning of the conclave to elect his successor. However, the cardinals cannot set the date until…
The Vatican
Vatican blasts ‘deplorable’ secular press reports on papal transition
by Guest Writer •
By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service Vatican City — Vatican officials released a pair of unusual statements Feb. 23 condemning some press coverage of the papal transition. A communique from the Secretariat of State called “deplorable” the “widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories” intended to exert “pressures on the…
