Pope Benedict XVI's body lying in state at Vatican

Conrad Hoyt

January 02, 04:20 AM January 02, 04:36 AM

The body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica as thousands of people line up to pay their respects on Monday.

Benedict died on New Year's Eve at the age of 95, nine years after he retired as pope, becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to do so. Benedict's body will be displayed for three days in an open casket at the church, with people allowed to pay their respects until 7 p.m. each evening.

BENEDICT XVI: VATICAN IN UNCHARTED WATERS FOLLOWING DEATH OF RETIRED PONTIFF FOR FIRST TIME

Pope Francis succeeded Benedict after the latter's surprise announcement. The camerlengo typically runs the Vatican between the death of one pope and the election of the next. This time, Francis will continue running the Vatican. Francis will also preside over the funeral at St. Peter's Square on Thursday. Benedict requested a funeral marked by simplicity.

Francis mourned and gave thanks to his predecessor hours after his death on Saturday.

“We are moved as we recall him as such a noble person, so kind. And we feel such gratitude in our hearts: gratitude to God for having given him to the Church and to the world,” Francis said in his remarks, according to a transcript provided by the Vatican News Service.

President Joe Biden, the second Catholic president, said he and first lady Jill Biden were mourning the death of the pope emeritus. The president noted that he met with Benedict in 2011 and said that the pope was generous and welcoming. "May his focus on the ministry of charity continue to be an inspiration to us all," Biden said.

It is not yet known which representatives of the U.S. will be present at Benedict's funeral, but delegations from Italy and Benedict's native Germany are expected to be in attendance.

Pope Francis to appoint initially two gals to bishop collection committee

Abigail Adcox

July 06, 11:35 AM July 06, 11:35 AM

Pope Francis shelp he will appoint females to a previously all-male Vatican committee that advises him in selecting bishops, the most recent from a pope who has supplied females significantly large-energy roles at the Vatican.

The pope mentioned he is "open up" to supplying ladies "an possibility," while he did not offer specifics about which women would be a part of the committee that suggests appointments for bishops, all of whom are adult men.

POPE FRANCIS DENIES RESIGNATION RUMORS

"Two gals will be appointed for the to start with time in the committee to elect bishops in the Congregation for Bishops," Francis explained to Reuters in an interview released on Wednesday. "This way, points are opening up a bit."

Final month, the new constitution for the Holy See's central administration went into outcome, letting any baptized lay Catholic, including women of all ages, to head most of the Vatican's departments.

The pope selected Sister Raffaella Petrini for the No. 2 situation in the governorship of the Vatican Metropolis in 2021, generating her the 1st female to maintain the purpose.

The naming of bishops is a prolonged process that entails the advisory committee, recommendations from the regional stage by clergymen, and other large-profile adult men, in accordance to the Washington Publish.

Pope Francis denies resignation rumors

Jack Birle

July 04, 10:27 AM July 04, 10:27 AM

Pope Francis has denied rumors that he will quickly be stepping down despite modern well being troubles and canceled journeys.

Francis acknowledged the fears and coincidences major to speculation about his upcoming as pope but insisted he has no speedy plans to resign in an interview with Reuters.

PELOSI Visited WITH POPE FRANCIS, Obtained COMMUNION Throughout VATICAN Take a look at

With a significant conference of the Catholic Church's cardinals, a cardinal induction ceremony, and a check out to L'Aquila, an Italian city joined with papal resignation, all planned for this August, speculation about a resignation commenced to arise.

"All of these coincidences designed some imagine that the exact same 'liturgy' would transpire," Francis reported in the interview printed on Monday. "But it never entered my thoughts. For the minute, no, for the minute, no. Seriously!"

The pope's wellbeing has also been a motive for speculation, with the chief of the Catholic Church staying minimal in mobility thanks to a knee damage.

In the job interview, Francis denied rumors that he experienced cancer when he experienced an operation on his colon very last calendar year, contacting the treatment a "excellent achievement."

The Vatican lately canceled a vacation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan due to desired remedy and relaxation for Francis's recovery. He nonetheless ideas on making a excursion to Canada afterwards this month.

In the job interview, the Pope reiterated if his wellbeing were to decline to a stage wherever he could not complete his responsibilities, then he may possibly resign.

Pelosi receives Communion at Vatican regardless of pro-abortion rights stance

Christopher Hutton

June 29, 08:16 AM June 29, 08:16 AM

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was provided a prospect to obtain Communion in the course of her go to to the Vatican.

Pelosi gained Communion on Wednesday when attending a Mass presided over by Pope Francis. Pelosi was associated irrespective of a number of Catholic leaders in the United States barring the Democratic leader of the Residence from getting Communion in excess of her pro-abortion stance.

PELOSI TELLS Home DEMOCRATS ABORTION Legislation IS FORTHCOMING TO CODIFY ROE

The speaker acquired Communion when visiting the Vatican on a loved ones holiday vacation, according to Crux Now. She did not acquire it instantly from the pope, as a substitute getting it from a person of the priests helping with the ceremony. It is also unclear if the clergymen were mindful of Pelosi's identity.

Pelosi's house archbishop, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, dominated on May 20 that Pelosi was barred from obtaining Communion in his diocese.

"A Catholic legislator who supports procured abortion, just after understanding the instructing of the Church, commits a manifestly grave sin which is a lead to of most serious scandal to others," Cordileone said in a letter asserting the ban, according to the Pillar. "Hence, universal Church regulation supplies that these individuals are not to be admitted to Holy Communion."

At minimum four dioceses in the U.S. have barred Pelosi from obtaining Communion, though the Washington, D.C., diocese has ongoing to serve the Residence chief due to the fact Cordileone's proclamation.

Pelosi has regularly expressed her assist for pro-abortion rights plan and has stated so many situations although also referencing her faith as inspiring her choice. She declared on Tuesday that she was doing the job with many others to build laws that would "codify freedoms which People now enjoy," especially the flexibility to get an abortion.

Pelosi is not the only Democrat who has confronted denial of Communion more than support of professional-abortion insurance policies. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted in June 2021 to move ahead with a document that could have theoretically barred President Joe Biden from Communion. The convention amended the doc for the duration of its November 2021 meeting to offer with Communion but did not bar the president.