Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming apostolic journey to the United States will soon make headlines, locally, nationally and internationally. How will we, the Catholic faithful, welcome and celebrate the presence of the successor of St. Peter among us? Why do we look forward to the pope’s April 15-20 visit to Washington and New York as so...Read More
Pope Benedict XVI will visit Washington and New York shortly after Easter. The timing of this papal visit raises the question: Is the ministry of the pope affected or even shaped in a particular way by the resurrection of the crucified Jesus? Is preaching the risen Lord at the heart of what St Peter and...Read More
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). Our Lord Jesus addressed these words to St. Peter as the time of His death drew near....Read More
From the very beginning, when Jesus chose St. Peter and declared him to be the “rock” upon which he would build his Church, the pope has had a unique role in teaching, sanctifying and governing the Christian faithful. This has taken many different forms over the centuries and has developed into the practice we have...Read More
Every Sunday at Mass, Catholics throughout the world profess their common faith by praying together the ancient Nicene Creed. In that creed, we profess our faith in “One, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” The ministry of the pope, founded upon the ministry of St. Peter himself, is an essential and central component for preserving and...Read More
It was God’s plan from all eternity that at this moment in history a man named Joseph Alois Ratzinger would one day be pope, the 264th successor of St. Peter. As vicar of Christ, he would continue on a universal level the three-fold ministry of Jesus as priest, prophet and king. Who were the people...Read More
Like the discovery of details in a Sherlock Holmes mystery, the purpose of this series of eight articles on St. Peter is to put together the pieces of his life and discover precisely who he was. More importantly, it is to discover the nature of the unique mission given him by Jesus Christ, a mission...Read More
VATICAN CITY – The following are papal quotes about the United Nations or addressed to the United Nations, which officially came into existence Oct. 24, 1945.Read More
WASHINGTON – Late-night talks with friends about life and faith are common in the dorm rooms of The Catholic University of America. Talking about the Catholic Church in class is pretty normal, too.Read More
NEW YORK – German Catholics are such a modest presence in New York that Pope Benedict XVI may leave the Big Apple without meeting a single one. He will, however, see evidence of their mark on Manhattan’s history, when he hosts an ecumenical prayer service April 18 at St. Joseph’s Church.Read More
NEW YORK – Pope Benedict XVI’s April 18 visit to the United Nations “is eagerly awaited because the pope is seen as a moral authority offering clear guidance on the foundational values of life and of human society,” said the Vatican’s U.N. ambassador.Read More
VATICAN CITY – Although he has not been a full-time professor since 1977, Pope Benedict XVI’s life and ministry have been heavily influenced by his university experiences. He made his reputation as a theologian and still meets annually with a group of his former doctoral students.Read More