As we continue with Day 2 of our Consistory coverage, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass this morning in St. Peter’s Basilica with 22 new Cardinals who were inducted at yesterday’s Ordinary Public Consistory. Included among the concelebrants was the Archbishop of Toronto, Thomas Cardinal Collins. During his homily, on this the feast of the Chair ...read more

This morning in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Benedict created 22 new Cardinals at an Ordinary Public Consistory. Included among them was the Archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Thomas Collins. During his address, the Holy Father told the new Cardinals that the scarlet colour of their robes and birettas is a symbol of martyrdom. Like Christ, and ...read more

Below is Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It will be celebrated in the Universal Church on April 29, which is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The message is dated Oct. 18, however, it was released by the Vatican Feb. 13. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The 49th World Day of ...read more

Benedict XVI celebrated Vespers on January 25 to mark both the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul and the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The liturgy, which was attended by representatives of various Christian denominations, took place at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. The video of his homily is ...read more

Every year for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord the Holy Father takes part in a special tradition: he celebrates Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the Vatican workers who have had babies in the last year and baptizes the little ones. The tradition began with John Paul II in the first year ...read more

Above is Pope Benedict’s homily, as delivered at Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany. ...read more

On the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe Pope Benedict XVI announced he will visit Mexico and Cuba in 2012.  Today the Mexican Bishops’ Conference and the Cuban Bishops’ conference each released a preliminary itinerary of the Holy Father’s visit to their nations. Pope Benedict will arrive in the Mexican city of  Leon on ...read more

There are no words to describe how incredibly uplifting these past few days have been. Not only has it been uplifting for the people of Benin but for Africa and the universal Church, as a whole. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, Pope Benedict set out on a mission. It ...read more

The following is Pope Benedict XVI’s farewell address, as delivered at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport. Mr President, Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Authorities and Dear Friends, My Apostolic Journey to Africa has now come to an end.  I thank God for these days spent among you in joy and friendship.  I thank you, ...read more

Here is Pope Benedict’s homily from Holy Mass in Friendship Stadium in Cotonou, Benin. Dear Brother Bishops and Priests, Dear Brothers and Sisters, Following in the footsteps of my blessed predecessor Pope John Paul II, it is a great joy for me to visit for the second time this dear continent of Africa, coming among ...read more