Georgia Bulletin

Vatican City

• 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 […] Full Story

• 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. […] Full Story

• 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 […]

• 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: […] Full Story

• 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. […] Full Story

• 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 […] Full Story

• 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 […]