Come, Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, sun of justice: shine on those lost in the darkness of death!   Light, Liturgy and Time “The celebration of the birth of Christ [is] the dawning of the new light, the true sun, of history.” Pope Benedict XVI, The Spirit of the Liturgy, p. 107. Today’s antiphon ...read more

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ plans to visit the central Italian city of L’Aquila and its basilica Aug. 28 fueled speculation of a possible announcement of his resignation, which he has firmly denied. L’Aquila’s basilica is the burial place of St. Celestine V, who issued a decree declaring the right of a pope to ...read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI asks forgiveness for his failings in regard to the sexual abuse crisis in the Church. Read the full text. ...read more

In this article from the Salt + Light Media archives, John L. Allen Jr. looks at Pope Emeritus Benedict's legacy of a Church that reaches out. ...read more

What is the Immaculate Conception and when did it become part of the teaching of the Catholic Church? Scott Harris explores this popular Marian devotion. ...read more

Read the full text of Pope Francis’ preface of Benedict’s works: A compass to Understand our Present day. Curtesy of Aleteia Magazine. ...read more

The final lessons of John XXIII and Benedict XVI G.K. Chesterton once wrote: “It is of the new things that men tire… of fashions and proposals and improvements and change. It is the old things that startle and intoxicate. It is the old things that are young.” This was the paradoxical justification Chesterton gave for ...read more

Sebastian Gomes speaks with Cardinal Donald Wuerl about Pope Benedict XVI, his resignation, and the Papal Transition to Pope Francis. ...read more

By Sebastian Gomes, Special to CNN In hindsight we see how calculated Benedict’s thinking was, and not only about his resignation. He called an unexpected consistory to be held on November 24 in which he created six new cardinals, none of them coming from Europe. That came nine months after the previous consistory, meaning that ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI delivered his final public homily on February 13, 2013 during Ash Wednesday Mass, just days after announcing his resignation. Here is the full homily. ...read more