Tuesday, March 19 2013 5:46 AM EDT2013-03-19 09:46:50 GMT
Pope Francis officially began his ministry as the 266th pope on Tuesday in an installation Mass simplified to suit his style, but still grand enough to draw princes, presidents, rabbis, muftis and thousands of ordinary people to St. Peter's Square to witness the inauguration of the first pope from the New World.Francis thrilled the crowd at the start of the Mass by taking a long round-about through the sun-drenched piazza and getting out of his jeep to bless a disabled man. It was a gesture f...
Pope Francis officially began his ministry as the 266th pope on Tuesday in an installation Mass simplified to suit his style, but still grand enough to draw princes, presidents, rabbis, muftis and thousands of ordinary people to St. Peter's Square to witness the inauguration of the first pope from the New World.Francis thrilled the crowd at the start of the Mass by taking a long round-about through the sun-drenched piazza and getting out of his jeep to bless a disabled man. It was a gesture f...
Thursday, March 14 2013 5:59 AM EDT2013-03-14 09:59:49 GMT
From "the end of the earth," the Catholic Church found a surprising new leader Wednesday.
From "the end of the earth," the Catholic Church found a surprising new leader Wednesday, a pioneer pope from Argentina who took the name Francis, a pastor rather than a manager to resurrect a church and faith in crisis. He is the first pontiff from the New World and the first non-European since the Middle Ages.
Wednesday, March 13 2013 10:23 PM EDT2013-03-14 02:23:34 GMT
Tears and cheers erupted across Latin America on Wednesday as an Argentine cardinal became the first pope from the hemisphere, and many expressed hope that he could help bring the church closer to the poverty-wracked region that is home to more Roman Catholics than any other.
Tears and cheers erupted across Latin America on Wednesday as an Argentine cardinal became the first pope from the hemisphere, and many expressed hope that he could help bring the church closer to the poverty-wracked region that is home to more Roman Catholics than any other.
Wednesday, March 13 2013 7:44 PM EDT2013-03-13 23:44:41 GMT
The following is the Vatican's official English translation of Pope Francis' speech `'Urbi et Orbi" delivered in Italian from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Wednesday night.
The following is the Vatican's official English translation of Pope Francis' speech `'Urbi et Orbi" delivered in Italian from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Wednesday night.
Wednesday, March 13 2013 5:01 PM EDT2013-03-13 21:01:25 GMT
Pope Francis' first tweet
The pope's Twitter account, whose profile was changed to read "Sede Vacante" when Benedict stepped down, now has been switched back to "Pontifex." His first tweet is "HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM" which translates to: "We have Pope Francis."
The pope's Twitter account, whose profile was changed to read "Sede Vacante" when Benedict stepped down, now has been switched back to "Pontifex." His first tweet is "HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM" which translates to: "We have Pope Francis."
In unadorned white robes, the first pope from the Americas sets a tone of simplicity and pastoral humility in a church desperate to move past the tarnished era of abuse scandals and internal Vatican upheavals.
In unadorned white robes, the first pope from the Americas sets a tone of simplicity and pastoral humility in a church desperate to move past the tarnished era of abuse scandals and internal Vatican upheavals.
Pope Francis, known previously as Jorge Bergoglio, has been known for years as a humble man who denied himself the luxuries that previous Buenos Aires cardinals enjoyed.
Pope Francis, known previously as Jorge Bergoglio, has been known for years as a humble man who denied himself the luxuries that previous Buenos Aires cardinals enjoyed.
WASHINGTON -
It was an historic exit for Pope Benedict XVI Thursday at the Vatican. He is the first Pope to resign in 600 years.
He promises to be loyal to his successor, but leaves behind a church in crisis.
To tap into how Washingtonians feel about Benedict's resignation, FOX 5 had a talk today with a theology professor at Catholic University and attended noon mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Father Michael Weston asked church members to continue to pray in Thanksgiving for Benedict XVI. He also acknowledged how social media savvy the 85-year-old Benedict was as pope. Father Weston referenced his final Tweets, hoping that "all of us would be able to know the job of having Jesus as the center of our life."
Some Catholics told us they respected his decision to leave, but were saddened that church scandals are clouding his legacy.
Christopher Ruddie, who teaches a course on Benedict's writings at Catholic University, said it's clear that scandal and the Vatican leaks scandal were weighing on him. Ruddie said it was unprecedented for a pope to meet with the victims and survivors of sexual abuse as Benedict did when he visited Washington several years ago.
As he left, the Pope Emeritus vowed to be loyal to his successor, and Ruddie says he's sure Benedict will "help out the new pope if the new pope seeks his advice. But I don't see him as being a meddler."
