Pope Benedict XVI
New Benedict book promotes priestly celibacy, suggesting rift with Francis
By Claire Giangravé — January 13, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a new book he co-authored, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI defends clerical celibacy at a time when Pope Francis is considering allowing more married men to become Catholic priests.
Two popes and three kings
By Thomas Reese — January 6, 2020
(RNS) — The story of the three kings, like the film of the two popes, is not factual, but it still teaches us deep truths.
‘The Two Popes’ promotes dialogue in a polarized Catholic Church and society
By Claire Giangravé — December 16, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) – Held together by engaging writing and artful acting, the movie ‘The Two Popes’ offers an intimate look at the relationship between Pope Francis and Benedict XVI, delivering a powerful message about dialogue and mercy along the way.
The rise of fundamentalist Catholicism
By Mark Silk — November 19, 2019
(RNS) — The recent Amazon synod has exposed just how far conservative Catholicism has been reshaped in the image of American evangelicalism.
Christian churches own up to the futility of converting the Jews
By A. James Rudin — September 27, 2019
(RNS) — Throughout history, church and political authorities have used horrendous physical, emotional and psychological pressures in fruitless conversion campaigns.
New cardinals: The men are the message
By Thomas Reese — September 12, 2019
(RNS) — By making these men cardinals, the pope is handing them megaphones.
Pope Francis pushes a new theology of climate change
By Mark Silk — September 3, 2019
(RNS) — Rather than blame the environmental crisis on humanity's fallen state, as his predecessors did, Francis emphasizes how nature brings us closer to God.
Pope Francis firms up his legacy with appointment of new cardinals
By Thomas Reese — September 2, 2019
(RNS) — After Oct. 15, 53% of the cardinal electors will have been appointed by Francis.
The Eucharist is about more than Christ becoming present
By Thomas Reese — August 15, 2019
(RNS) — Using Aristotelian concepts to explain Catholic mysteries in the 21st century is a fool’s errand. When was the last time you met an Aristotelian outside a Catholic seminary?
Can a Catholic critique of ‘throwaway culture’ pull politics from the brink?
By Charles C. Camosy — May 15, 2019
(RNS) — The church’s Consistent Life Ethic, rightly understood, could challenge our impoverished and incoherent political imagination and let a new generation begin the hard work of laying out the foundational principles for what comes next.
Benedict’s unfortunate letter ignores the facts on the Catholic sex abuse crisis
By Thomas Reese — April 15, 2019
(RNS) — The pope emeritus' comments on sexual revolution are part of his campaign against theologians who, in his view, opened the floodgates to all sorts of sexual sins.
Retired Pope Benedict wades into clergy sex abuse debate
By Nicole Winfield — April 11, 2019
(AP) — His analysis was immediately criticized as 'catastrophically irresponsible' — a conflict with efforts by his successor, Pope Francis, to lead the church out of its crisis.
Cardinal blasts archbishop’s attack on pope as ‘monstrous and unsubstantiated’
By Thomas Reese — October 8, 2018
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, refutes Archbishop Carlo Vigano's claim that Pope Francis released ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick from sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict.
US confidence in Pope Francis’ handling of abuse scandal drops
By Jack Jenkins — October 2, 2018
(RNS) — Only 3 in 10 Catholic adults say Francis is doing an 'excellent' or a 'good' job with the ongoing child sex abuse crisis, Pew Reasearch says, down 14 points from January of this year.
Doubts about Viganò’s accusations aside, Pope Francis needs a better response
By Thomas Reese — August 28, 2018
(RNS) — No proponent of transparency while U.S. nuncio, Archbishop Vigano now paints himself a born-again defender of the abused. The Vatican's only credible response is to say what it knew and when.
