Earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged priests to become familiar with new media as a possible tool for evangelization. In light of this, the United States Conference of Bishops have released guidelines for church-personnel on how to use social media-such as blogs and Facebook pages- as part of ministry. The document said that social ...read more

After his Wednesday General Audience on July 7th, Pope Benedict traveled to Castelgandolfo to begin his summer break. The days leading up to his vacation were quite busy. Catholic News Service’s Carol Glatz and John Thavis explain, and take a look at the two months ahead, in this week’s Vatican Report. To download Flash Player ...read more

The first registrant for World Youth Day Madrid isn’t Spanish, but German. It fact, it’s Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father registered after a meeting in Rome with Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela of Madrid and other organizers of the August 2011 event. The Pope described World Youth Day as “not just a mass gathering but ...read more

Tuesday marks the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. As always, it is also the day that Metropolitan Archbishops who have been appointed in the last 12 months receive the Pallium. The Pallium symbolizes their role as shepherds and teachers (Fr. Rosica’s offers more on the Pallium in a blog entry from 2009 HERE). This ...read more

Cor ad Cor Loquitur – Heart Speaks unto Heart. That was announced last week as the motto for Pope Benedict XVI’s September visit to the UK. The phrase is an appropriate one — it’s the motto on the coat of arms of Cardinal John Henry Newman. The Holy Father will beatify Cardinal Newman on the ...read more

The Year for Priests officially came to a close last Friday. This week in the Vatican Report, Catholic News Service’s Cindy Wooden and John Thavis highlight some of Pope Benedict XVI’s words during concluding events for the Year. To download Flash Player please click here – CNS photo/Paul Haring ...read more

Fifteen thousand priests, 350 bishops and 80 cardinals joined Pope Benedict today in celebrating the closing Mass of the Year for Priests. It’s the largest concelebration ever held at the Vatican. The Holy Father did not shy away from addressing the clerical sexual abuse scandal in his homily.  He brought it up early explaining that ...read more

Pope Benedict led priests in a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration occurred at the end of the concluding Mass for the Year for Priests, while the Holy Father knelt before an icon of our Blessed Mother. See the consecration below: CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Immaculate ...read more

Only about 3% of the population of Cyprus is Catholic. But the small community received a big boost last weekend when Pope Benedict XVI became the first Pope to visit the Mediterranean island. This week in the Vatican Report, Catholic News Service’s Cindy Wooden and John Thavis highlight the Holy Father’s visit to Cyprus. To ...read more

How can we fail to be moved when we recall that the gift of our priestly ministry flows directly from this heart?  How can we forget that we priests were consecrated to serve, humbly yet authoritatively, the common priesthood of the faithful?  Ours is an mission which is indispensable for the Church and for the ...read more