Georgia Bulletin

Vatican City

• Next Pope To Face Challenges Over Priests, Mission

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 5, 2007

  Although Pope John Paul II leaves behind a legacy of pastoral accomplishments, his successor will also face a number of challenges in areas of church governance, missionary strategies and priestly ministry. The challenges are expected to loom large in the cardinals’ daily discussions ahead of the conclave, where they will assess church priorities and begin […]

• Vatican Moves From Pen And Parchment To DVDs, Web

  By JOHN THAVIS,CNS
  Published December 15, 2005

  Two hundred years ago, popes communicated with pen on parchment, in documents and letters secured with sealing wax. Today, Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings and speeches are flashed around the world in real time on the Internet, and he is the star of the Vatican’s own Web site. He gives interviews to Vatican Radio, and many […]

• Archbishop Gregory To Attend Synod On Eucharist

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published September 29, 2005

  Pope Benedict XVI presides in October over the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, an assembly that will review liturgical issues, emphasize the importance of Sunday Mass and mark the close of the “Year of the Eucharist.” More than 250 bishops from every continent, including Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta, will attend the Oct. […]

• In Majestic Mass Pope Reaffirms Unity With Bishops

  By CAROL GLATZ, CNS
  Published July 7, 2005

  In a solemn ceremony welcoming new archbishops from around the world, including Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, Pope Benedict XVI stressed the importance of bishops’ unity with the Holy See and their common agreement with the Christian faith. The doctrine and faith of the church form “virtually one single family” that expresses “the same faith […]

• In Homily, Pope Vows To Lead People To Christ

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 28, 2005

  In the first homily of his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI said his primary mission was to lead people out of the modern desert of empty values, alienation and injustice toward the light of Christ. Speaking April 24 to some 350,000 people who spilled out of St. Peter’s Square, the pope said he took seriously the […]

• From Hardliner To Humble Shepherd: Pope Looks To Transform Perception

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 28, 2005

  For more than 23 years, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s public image was that of a brilliant but strict guardian of Catholic orthodoxy, a man who did not hesitate to crack down on errant theologians or risk offending other religions if doctrinal clarity was at stake. Until recently, most people in Rome discounted the idea that he […]

• Pope Benedict XVI Formally Begins Ministry

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 28, 2005

  In a liturgy rich with symbols and promises, Pope Benedict XVI formally began his ministry as head of the universal church, and Catholics from around the world pledged their love and obedience to him. The morning of April 24, Pope Benedict, elected April 19, walked down to the tomb of the martyred St. Peter in […]

• Pope Benedict One Of Most Respected Theologians

  By CNS
  Published April 21, 2005

  As the guiding light on doctrinal issues during Pope John Paul II’s pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI was one of the most respected, influential and controversial members of the College of Cardinals. Since 1981 the 78-year-old Pope Benedict—regarded as one of the church’s sharpest theologians—has headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican […]

• Pope’s World Mission Sunday Message Published

  By CAROL GLATZ, CNS
  Published April 21, 2005

  In his last message published to the world, Pope John Paul II called on the faithful to be “generous evangelizers” by fighting injustice and poverty while spreading the Gospel. On April 15 the Vatican released the pope’s annual World Mission Sunday message, which was written in six languages, including Chinese. The message was signed by […]

• Last Memorial Mass For Pope John Paul II

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 21, 2005

  Dressed in the white and gold vestments of the Easter season, the world’s cardinals ended the official nine-day mourning period for Pope John Paul II with an April 16 Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The liturgy was celebrated by 78-year-old Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, […]

• Conclave Rapidly Elects Dean Of Cardinals As Pope

  By JOHN THAVIS and CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 21, 2005

  German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the 78-year-old guardian of the church’s doctrine for the last 24 years, was elected the 265th pope and took the name Benedict XVI. Appearing at the central window of St. Peter’s Basilica April 19, the newly elected pope smiled as he was greeted by a cheering, flag-waving crowd of nearly 100,000 […]

• Statistics Shared On Week Leading Up To Pope’s Funeral

  By BENEDICTA CIPOLLA, CNS
  Published April 14, 2005

  In the week following Pope John Paul II’s death, more than 3 million pilgrims descended on Rome to honor the late pontiff, a Vatican statement said. On April 12 the Vatican press office released a treasure trove of data from April 2, the day the pope died, through April 8, the day of his funeral. […]

• In Spiritual Testament, Pope Reflects On Life, Aging

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 14, 2005

  In his spiritual testament, Pope John Paul II reflected on the communist persecution of the church, the attempt to assassinate him, the fall of the Iron Curtain and his own aging. The College of Cardinals released an Italian translation of the Polish text April 7. As his 80th birthday approached in 2000, he said he […]

• As Conclave Approaches, Doors Close To Journalists

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 14, 2005

  During a 10-day period surrounding the death of Pope John Paul II, the Vatican practiced a remarkable degree of openness and enjoyed overwhelmingly positive press coverage of the pope’s legacy and the church’s activities. However, as the church prepared for one of its most secret events, the doors closed once again to journalists. On April […]

• Great, Humble Pray Farewell To Beloved Pope

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 14, 2005

  Pope John Paul II “offered his life for his flock and for the entire human family,” the dean of the College of Cardinals told hundreds of thousands of people gathered April 8 for the pope’s funeral Mass and burial. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean, presided over the Mass concelebrated by 157 of the world’s 183 […]

• Slowed By Age, Pope Refused To Give Up World Travels

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  Although slowed by age and infirmity before he died, Pope John Paul II refused to give up one of his favorite pastoral duties: traveling the globe. Visiting 129 countries on 104 trips outside Italy, he redefined the nature of the papacy and its once-stable ministry. Earlier popes were carried on chairs at the Vatican; this […]

• He Challenged Americans, But Found Common Ground

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  Often presented as a face-off between the world’s remaining superpower and the world’s premier moral authority, U.S.-Vatican relations under Pope John Paul II in reality included major moments of collaboration. In the same way, relations between the Vatican and Catholics in the United States often were painted as stormy, but U.S. Catholics’ participation in church […]

• Pope Already Considered Pivotal In Communism’s Demise

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  In the view of many political commentators, history will best remember Pope John Paul II as the spiritual godfather of communism’s demise. Although he refused to claim personal credit for the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and its decline elsewhere around the globe, the pope was keenly aware that his moral prodding—especially in his […]

• Pilgrim Pontiff Was World’s Apostle, Conscience

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  Pope John Paul II, who died April 2 at age 84, was a voice of conscience for the world and a modern-day apostle for his church. To both roles he brought a philosopher’s intellect, a pilgrim’s spiritual intensity and an actor’s flair for the dramatic. That combination made him one of the most forceful moral […]

• Pope John Paul II Published 14 Encyclical Letters

  Published April 7, 2005

  During his more than 26-year tenure, Pope John Paul II published 14 encyclical letters. Here is a chronological list of all his encyclicals: 1. “Redemptor Hominis” (“The Redeemer of Man”), 1979: On Jesus Christ and the dignity his redemption brings to the human race. 2. “Dives in Misericordia” (“Rich in Mercy”), 1980: On God the […]