In today’s snapshot, Pope Benedict pets a lion cub during an audience with circus performers and music bands in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 1, 2012. CNS photo/Paul Haring ...read more

Watch Pope Benedict’s message to English speaking faithful at his final general audience, held today in St. Peter’s Square. ...read more

Published below is a translation of the address that Pope Benedict just delivered in an open-air celebration in St. Peter’s Square. In this moving address to the Church and to the world, he reflected on the past eight years of his papacy and his decision to resign and commit himself to the Church through prayer. ...read more

In today’s snapshot, Pope Benedict takes in the panoramic view from Mount Nebo in Madaba, Jordan, May 9, 2009. Mount Nebo is where Moses glimpsed the Promised Land before dying. The pope was making a week-long pastoral visit to the Holy Land. CNS photo/Greg Tarczynski ...read more

On Wednesday, Pope Benedict takes part in his final General Audience. S+L’s Kris Dmyrenko will bring you live coverage at 4:30 am ET / 1:30 am PT.  If that’s too early in the morning for you, you catch our encore presentation at 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT. Visit S+L’s special Benedict XVI website ...read more

In today’s snapshot, Pope Benedict meets with Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro at the apostolic nunciature in Havana March 28, 2012. CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters ...read more

We started looking at the papacy and some history as explained in the In Your Faith episode, Who is the Pope? and then last time we looked at why we have popes. Today, let’s continue with some interesting facts about the papacy. As soon as a pope dies, all cardinals under the age of 80 ...read more

In today’s snapshot, Pope Benedict greets the crowd at the conclusion of the Way of the Cross in Plaza de Cibeles during World Youth Day in Madrid Aug. 19, 2011. CNS photo/Paul Haring ...read more

Last time we were looking at some interesting facts about the papacy as presented in the In Your Faith episode, Who is the Pope? We learned that the history of the papacy is as varied as it is interesting. But why do we have popes in the first place? There’s a lot of confusion as ...read more

In today’s snapshot, Pope Benedict accepts a gift from Canadian Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief David Harper at the end of his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 23, 2011. CNS photo/L’Osservator e Romano via Reuters ...read more