Running in Cassock! The Exciting Evening of the Pope’s Election 11

By Br Eric Wandrey

Br Eric Wandrey

Our seminary in Rome is 4.5 miles from the Vatican. Since the announcement of the Conclave, every brother was making his own contingency plans to get to St. Peter’s ASAP when the white smoke went up. More…

A Final Wave from the Holy Father 23

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — 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 path of the church with prayer and reflection, with that dedication to the Lord and to his bride that I have tried to live every day till now and that I want to live always,” the pope told a crowd in St. Peter’s Square Feb. 27, the eve of his resignation. (Continue reading…) More…

How I Stole the Pope’s Ring 10

By Fr Jason Smith

Fisherman's Ring

Fisherman’s Ring

With Pope Benedict being on everyone’s mind and heart, and today being the feast of the Chair of St Peter, I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to tell my favorite personal encounter with Pope Benedict.

Back in April of 2006, while still a seminarian, I had the privilege of serving at the Easter Vigil, presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. More…

What Happens to Pope Benedict’s Infallibility When He’s No Longer Pope? 14

Answer: It’s not Pope Benedict’s infallibility.

At the end of every pontificate, there is always a lot of buzz and speculation surrounding the issue of the next Pope.

Who will he be? Will he let priests start marrying, allow women to be priests, or change the Catholic Church’s teaching on contraception? More…