Georgia Bulletin

Vatican City

• Important Dates In Pope John Paul’s Life, Pontificate

  Published April 7, 2005

  Here are some important dates in the life of Pope John Paul II: 1920: Karol Wojtyla is born May 18, baptized June 20 in Wadowice, Poland. 1929: His mother dies; he receives first Communion. 1938: Moves to Krakow with father; enters Jagellonian University, joins experimental theater group. 1939: Germany and Soviet Union invade Poland. 1940: […]

• Next Pope To Face Challenges Over Priests, Mission

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  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 […]

• In ‘96 Conclave Rules, Pope Emphasized Secrecy

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  When Pope John Paul II rewrote the rules for the coming conclave, he emphasized repeatedly that the papal election and everything about it must remain secret. The cardinals and those assisting inside the conclave or at the dormlike building where the cardinals will stay are to take a solemn oath to observe “absolute and perpetual […]

• For Papal Election, World To Focus On Sistine Chapel

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  When cardinals gather to vote for a new pope, the attention of the world will once again focus on the Sistine Chapel, a setting resplendent with art and full of history. From the outside, the only sign of the conclave proceedings will emerge from the smokestack on top of the chapel’s roof. Barely visible from […]

• Conclave Has Wide Geographical Mix Of Cardinals

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  The coming conclave is expected to be the largest in history, with a wide geographical mix of cardinal-electors. There are 117 cardinals under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a papal election. They come from 53 different countries, and the vast majority of them have served as pastors in archdioceses around the world. […]

• Election Of New Pope Follows Detailed Procedure

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  The voting by cardinals to elect the next pope takes place behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, following a highly detailed procedure last revised by the late Pope John Paul II. Under the rules, secret ballots can be cast once on the first day of the conclave, then normally twice during each subsequent […]

• Cardinals Set April 18 As Start Of Conclave

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  As a record number of mourners continued to file past Pope John Paul II’s body, the world’s cardinals set April 18 for the start of the election of his successor. The cardinals, in their third day of meetings, also read Pope John Paul’s last will and testament. The document, about 15 pages long, will be […]

• Pope’s Death Sets In Motion Period Of Transition

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  The death of Pope John Paul II set in motion a complicated period of transition, an interval marked by mourning, a slowdown in Vatican operations and the election of a new pope. Regulated by ancient traditions and recent rules, the period between popes—known by the Latin term “interregnum”—began moments after the pope’s death April 2. […]

• Endless Line, Boundless Affection For Pope John Paul II

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  The line seemed endless, and so did the outpouring of affection for Pope John Paul II. All day and all night they came to St. Peter’s Basilica to say goodbye to the late pope, whose body lay on a damask-covered bier in front of the main altar. No one remembered seeing this big a crowd […]

• Pope John Paul II Looked Closely At Role Of Women

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  In authoritative theological documents and in heartfelt pastoral letters, Pope John Paul II looked at the role of women in the church and in the world more closely than any other pope in modern history. On topics as diverse as the priesthood, motherhood, abortion, work, religious life and peacemaking, women were a recurring and often […]

• As Thousands Pray Outside, Pope John Paul II Dies

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published April 7, 2005

  A historic papacy of more than 26 years ended with the death of Pope John Paul II on Saturday, April 2, after a long struggle with illness. The Vatican announced the pope’s death at 9:54 p.m. Rome time, two days after the pontiff suffered septic shock and heart failure brought on by a urinary tract […]

• Pope Gets Feeding Tube To Improve Caloric Intake

  Published March 31, 2005

  Pope John Paul II is receiving supplementary nutrition through a feeding tube as he continues his “slow and progressive” recovery, the Vatican announced. Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said March 30 that a nasogastric tube was inserted in order to improve the pope’s caloric intake and help him regain his strength. The pope underwent a tracheotomy […]

• Hospitalized Pope Improves, Receives Therapy

  By JOHN THAVIS, CNS
  Published March 3, 2005

  Five days after a tracheotomy to relieve breathing problems, Pope John Paul II was able to say Mass in his hospital room, meet with aides and continue initial sessions of speech therapy, the Vatican said. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who brought the pope some papers to work on, told reporters March 1 that the pontiff had […]

• Vatican Issues New Instructions To Marriage Courts

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published February 10, 2005

  Vatican officials said new instructions for church marriage tribunals are designed to ensure church law is followed, to defend the sacrament of marriage and to ensure the efficiency that justice requires. The new handbook for Latin-rite diocesan and interdiocesan tribunals, “Dignitas Connubii,” (“The Dignity of Marriage”), provided step-by-step procedures for accepting, investigating, judging and appealing […]

• Vatican Official Says Pope Alone Weighs Health, Papacy

  Published February 10, 2005

  When a top Vatican official said papal resignation should be left to the “conscience” of Pope John Paul II, it reignited a debate that has been smoldering for many years. Inside and outside the Vatican, prelates and lay experts have fallen into two camps: those who think the pope would resign if he felt he […]

• Pope John Paul II Hospitalized After Falling Ill

  Published February 3, 2005

  Pope John Paul II was taken to a Rome hospital late Feb. 1 with severe breathing problems caused by an inflammation in his throat, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters in a statement issued at midnight. The pope, 84, came down with the flu Jan. 30. About 10:50 p.m. Feb. 1 he was rushed to […]

• As New Year Begins, Pope Prays For Victims Of Tsunamis

  Published January 6, 2005

  Pope John Paul II ushered in the New Year with prayers for the families and victims of the Dec. 26 earthquake and devastating tsunamis that swept through parts of Asia and Africa. The pope celebrated a special, unscheduled Mass at midnight Dec. 31 in his private chapel with intentions specifically dedicated to all those affected […]

• Six Saints Canonized By Pope On May 16

  By CNS
  Published May 27, 2004

  Published: May 27, 2004 VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope John Paul II canonized six people during a May 16 Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Following are short profiles of the new saints. – St. Gianna Beretta Molla was born in Magenta, Italy, in 1922. While in high school and in medical school, she was involved with Catholic […]

• Vatican Says Mass Norms Ensure Reverence

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 29, 2004

  The norms for celebrating Mass must be followed exactly to ensure reverence for the Eucharist and to preserve the unity of the Catholic Church, said a new Vatican document. “In some places the perpetration of liturgical abuses has become almost habitual, a fact which obviously cannot be allowed and must cease,” said the document, “Redemptionis […]

• Pope, Liturgies Set Mood When Bishops Visit Rome

  By CINDY WOODEN, CNS
  Published April 8, 2004

  While bishops making their “ad limina” visits to Rome spend more time meeting than praying, the mood of the visits is set by concelebrated Masses and individual time with Pope John Paul II, several U.S. bishops said. Whether ordained a bishop 20 years ago or five months ago, the bishops agreed that the visits they […]