In the wake of Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise announcement on Monday, this week’s Vatican Connections is dedicated to the unfolding events in Rome. The papal resignation is unchartered territory in many ways: the last pope who resigned was Gregory XII in 1415. This week’s Vatican Connections features reactions from the Cardinals who were in the ...read more

Should we care for the holy sites? Or should we care about the Holy Sites? Whose responsibility is it to take care of them? Is it the local Church or the universal Church? In the Holy Land, the place where Jesus lived, there are many important and holy sites; as Catholics, is it our duty ...read more

Today’s snapshot comes from Pope Benedict’s Apostolic trip to England. Here, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Pope Benedict XVI exchange gifts in the Morning Drawing Room at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 16, 2010. Pictured at left is Prince Philip. The pope was beginning his four-day state visit to Great Britain. CNS ...read more

Today’s snapshot comes from Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Voyage to Benin. In this photo Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child during his visit at the St. Rita Parish of Cotonou, Benin on November 19, 2011. – CNS photo/LOsservatore Romano via Catholic Press Photo ...read more

The following is an article taken from Vatican Radio, published on February 14. The original article can be found here (Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict XVI has met parish priests and clergy of the Diocese of Rome in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. Led by Cardinal Vicar Agostino Vallini and auxiliary bishops, they greeted Benedict XVI ...read more

Watch Fr. Robert Barron’s new video on Pope Benedict’s Legacy. ...read more

In today’s snapshot of Pope Benedict’s papacy we remember his meeting with children on March 24, 2012 in Peace Square, Guanajuato, Mexico. A joyous occasion marked with tremendous significance for the Church, in Mexico, and around the world. CNS photo/Paul Haring ...read more

News reports about Pope Benedict’s health invariably mention that he has taken on a lighter schedule over the past several months. This is only partly true. While it’s indisputable that the Pope made only two international trips in 2012 — to Mexico and Cuba in March, and Lebanon in September — his daily schedule could ...read more

With his announcement February 11, Pope Benedict XVI becomes one of only four popes to resign. The last time a pope resigned from the Chair of Peter was 1415, in effort to end a major schism. The Code of Canon Laws allows for a pope to resign. The only conditions are that the decision be ...read more

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 When this story broke, I started receiving texts from all my friends, many of them far from church-minded, asking what this meant. I suppose in a world ...read more