Catholic World News (CWN) Feature Stories
Doctrine of Original Sin is the alternative to a 'vision of despair,' Pope tells Wednesday audience
Vatican, Dec 3 2008 (CWN) - Original Sin should always be understood in the context of the salvation brought by Jesus Christ, Pope Benedict XVI told his regular weekly public audience on December 3. Speaking to about 7,000 people in the Paul VI auditorium, the Holy Father ...
Advent is the season of hope, Pope says
Vatican, Dec 1 2008 (CWN) - The Vatican opened the season of Advent with a Vespers service in St. Peter's basilica on Saturday evening, November 29, with Pope Benedict XVI presiding. The Holy Father observed in his homily that Advent is "par excellence, the spiritual ...
New Vatican instruction on bioethics coming December 12
Vatican, Dec 1 2008 (CWN) - The Vatican has scheduled news conferences on consecutive days, December 11 and 12, to unveil a new teaching document on bioethics and the Pope's annual message for the World Day of Peace. The document on bioethical questions, entitled ...
Papal reflections on the purpose of the university
Vatican, Dec 1 2008 (CWN) - Pope Benedict XVI spoke about his own life in academic surroundings, and about the purpose of higher education, during a December 1 meeting with university student and faculty members from Parma, Italy. The Holy Father reminded his visitors that ...
Faith and works: Pope Benedict explains St. Paul's teaching
Vatican, Nov 26 2008 (CWN) - Pope Benedict XVI took up the question of faith vs. works-- particularly as it is expressed in St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians-- in his weekly public audience on November 26. Continuing his series of talks on the thought of St. Paul, the Holy ...
Christ's Kingdom vs. man's ideology: Pope's Sunday audience
Vatican, Nov 24 2008 (CWN) - "The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world," Pope Benedict XVI reminded his midday audience on Sunday, November 23: the feast of Christ the King. Nevertheless, he continued, that Kingdom "accomplishes all the good that-- thanks to God-- exists in ...
Prosecution of Hanoi Catholics seen as intimidation tactic
Hanoi, Nov 24 2008 (CWN) - Eight Vietnamese Catholics face criminal trial in Hanoi because of their peaceful protests at the Thai Ha parish, where lay Catholics have demonstrated for the return of property seized by the government from a Redemptorist monastery. The ...
Top Vatican-watcher predicts key Vatican appointment is imminent
Rome, Nov 21 2008 (CWN) - A respected Vatican-watcher is predicting that the Vatican will soon announcement the appointment of a new prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Andrea Tornielli of Il Giornale writes that Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera of ...
Did the Pope predict the meltdown of world financial markets?
Nov 21 2008 (CWN) - Did Pope Benedict predict the current worldwide financial crisis? During the past few days dozens of newspapers have run a report suggesting that the Pope had warned about the coming financial meltdown, more than 20 years ago. But more sober ...
Religious and social issues were not prominent in US presidential campaign coverage, study shows
Washington, Nov 21 2008 (CWN) - A study of media coverage during this year's US presidential campaign has concluded that there was relatively little in-depth discussion on religion, and that abortion and same-sex marriage were not heavily emphasized. The study seems to undermine ...
Pope explains St. Paul's approach to justification by faith
Vatican, Nov 19 2008 (CWN) - Pope Benedict XVI continued his series of Wednesday talks on the influence of St. Paul at his general audience on November 19, concentrating on the Apostle's approach to the question of justification. St. Paul, the Holy Father observed, devoted ...
Viet police stand by as mob ransacks Hanoi chapel
Hanoi, Nov 17 2008 (CWN) - A Redemptorist monastery in Hanoi that has been the focus of a struggle between Catholic activists and government officials was attacked by a mob on Saturday night, November 15. Rather than trying to protect the monastery, police did their best to ...
God's judgment should prompt apostolic action, not fear, Pope tells audience
Vatican, Nov 17 2008 (CWN) - Faithful Christians should be "vigilant and industrious while awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus at the end of time," Pope Benedict XVI told his midday audience on Sunday, November 16. The Holy Father said that the parable of the talents, ...
Why Christians long for the Second Coming: Pope explains
Vatican, Nov 12 2008 (CWN) - Christians should not long for the end of the world, Pope Benedict XVI told his regular weekly audience on November 12. But the faithful should pray for the return of Jesus-- even knowing that his Second Coming presages the end of the world-- ...
Analysis: Cardinal George sees America overcoming racism but not anti-Catholicism
Baltimore, Nov 11 2008 (CWN) - In his address yesterday to the fall meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cardinal Francis George said that the election of Sen. Barack Obama is a sign of the progress American society has made against racism but ...
Pope mourns Kristallnacht victims, condemns present-day atrocities in Congo
Vatican, Nov 10 2008 (CWN) - Pope Benedict XVI recalled the painful memory of Kristallnacht at his midday on November 9, as the world marked the 70th anniversary of the mob violence that inaugurated the Nazi campaign against European Jews. "Even today I suffer" from the ...
See Pius XII as precursor of Vatican II, Pope Benedict suggests
Vatican, Nov 10 2008 (CWN) - Pope Benedict XVI has offered an unusual perspective on the teaching of Pope Pius XII, accentuating the influence of that Pontiff on the Second Vatican Council. Speaking on November 8 to participants in a symposium on the teaching of Pope Pius ...
Pope supports organ transplants-- with caution for the donor's death with dignity
Vatican, Nov 7 2008 (CWN) - Organ transplants are a "great advance of medical science" that offer "a sign of hope for many people," Pope Benedict XVI told participants in a Vatican conference on organ donation at a private audience on November 7. The Holy Father took note ...
Christians and Muslims can agree on human rights, Pope tells 'Common Word' forum
Vatican, Nov 6 2008 (CWN) - Meeting on November 6 with participants in an unprecedented Catholic-Muslim encounter, Pope Benedict XVI said that the keen public interest in the 'Common Word' initiative should be "an incentive for us to ensure that the reflections and the ...
Pope outlines St. Paul's testimony to the central reality of the Resurrection
Vatican, Nov 5 2008 (CWN) - The reality of the Resurrection is a key to the teaching of St. Paul, Pope Benedict XVI told his weekly public audience on November 5. "The Cross cannot of itself explain the Christian faith," the Pope said. "The Paschal mystery consists in the ...