For sure, I’m no Nostradamus. To cite just one example of my failures as a prognosticator, in 1999 I published a biography of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger containing four reasons why his election as pope was improbable. We’re now, of course, into the eighth year of his reign. A month ago, however, I finally got one Read more
As the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States heads towards its annual assembly in August, its president says she is looking for a “third way” in dialogue with the Vatican. Last April the Vatican announced a major reform of the 1500-strong association, under which it will be supervised by three bishops. The Read more
Both the Society of St Pius X and the Vatican have left the door open for further dialogue after an exchange of statements in which the SSPX affirmed it recognises the authority of the Pope over the universal Church. The SSPX issued a statement drafted by 40 of its most senior members who met in Read more
After passing a financial transparency audit by European bank inspectors, the Holy See says it is still working towards a robust and sustainable system to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The audit by Moneyval, a department of the Council of Europe, followed a request by the Holy See last year for an Read more
Gossipy rumors have been mixed with more than a pinch of midsummer madness and served, stirred but not chilled, as a James Bond-like intrigue cocktail for Vatican conspiracy theorists who like to keep a glow on their paranoia. The main ingredients are the leaked confidential papers of Pope Benedict XVI in an incident that has Read more
About half of the world’s episcopal conferences have implemented guidelines for handling sex-abuse cases, according to a Vatican official. Monsignor Charles Scicluna said bishops’ conferences in Africa have lagged behind — because they face other urgent problems — but guidelines have been submitted to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from most other Read more
Brother Guy Consolmagno, a researcher and spokesman at the Vatican Observatory, has described the probable finding of the Higgs boson particle, the so called “god particle”, as an important achievement. While it has no direct bearing on theology or revelation, the scientific discovery hailed by some as the “god particle” is an important achievement, Br Read more
Before globalization the maritime industry played an important role in shipping consumables, raw material and finished products around the globe and also in transporting a great number of migrants. Even more today when 90% of the global trade is moved by sea together with millions of passengers travelling for pleasure on board of cruise ships. Read more
Ultra-traditionalists aren’t the only ones in need of papal ‘solicitude’. On June 26, the Vatican announced the appointment of Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia to a specially created post as “a sign of the Holy Father’s pastoral solicitude for traditionalist Catholics in communion with the Holy See and his strong desire for the reconciliation of those Read more
In an effort to lift the veil from decades of secrecy and suspicion, the Vatican Bank has been opening its alarm-triggered doors to give bishops, ambassadors and journalists a rundown on how it operates. This rare show of public relations savvy follows recent scandals such as the ousting of the bank’s president, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, Read more