Alessandro Speciale has been covering the Vatican since 2007 and started writing for Religion News Service in 2011. Born in Rome, he studied literature at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, and journalism at City University, London. He has appeared as an expert on Vatican affairs on CNN, BBC World and Al Jazeera English.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican has pulled the plug on daily briefings from American cardinals, fueled by growing resentment among Italian cardinals and others that the process to elect the next pope was starting to look like an American-style political campaign.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI invested much of his pontificate in trying to achieve reconciliation with the ultra-conservative Society of St. Pius X. But after years of negotiations, their relationship with the Vatican remains, as much in Benedict’s pontificate, unfinished business.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Roman Catholic cardinals will be called on to decide the start date of the conclave to elect a new pope, but they don’t seem to be in a hurry to do so.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) As former pope Benedict XVI started his retired life in the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo on Friday (March 1), cardinals in Rome began preparations that will lead up to the closed-door conclave to elect his successor.
Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation will become official on Feb. 28, and the conclave of cardinals to elect a new pope will begin soon after. Here’s a timeline to browse significant events planned before Benedict’s resignation and what happens afterwards. We’ll update this timeline when the Vatican announces a date for the start of the conclave. [...]
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The papacy of Benedict XVI came to a quiet end at 8 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 28), making him the first pope in 600 years to voluntarily leave office.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI promised “unconditional” obedience to his successor during a farewell meeting with cardinals on Thursday.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) In his final public address, Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday forcefully defended his decision to resign from the papacy while trying to reassure Catholics still reeling from the shock of his unprecedented move.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI will be known as “Pope Emeritus” after his retirement on Thursday, and will continue to wear the traditional white papal vestments.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) With three days left before his resignation on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI on Monday (Feb. 25) allowed cardinals to move up the start of the conclave that will elect his successor.
