- Written by: Vatican radio
(Vatican Radio) One of the lasting legacies of Benedict XVI's pontificate will be the mark he has left on the Liturgy as it is celebrated today. In short, he has re-focused our attention on how we, as Catholics, celebrate our faith in the light of tradition.
From his highly discussed 2007 Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontififcum, to his approval of the equally debated New English Language translation of the Roman Missal; from his elimination of all rites and gestures that are not specifically sacramental in nature from Papal liturgies to his recent changes to rites for the beginning of a pontificate, the "Ordo Rituum pro Ministerii Petrini Initio Romae Episcopi", Benedict XVI has brought the Universal Churches' focus back to prayer and the Eucharist, the source and summit of what makes us Church. In a way Benedict XVI has been a supremely liturgical Pope.
- Written by: Joanna Moorhead
The Catholic church is on its knees, and not in the way it would like. In fact, the last thing anyone would ask a bishop or cardinal about right now is prayer, or Christian witness, or how to live an upright, moral, God-trusting life. Why would you, when all they seem to know about is covering up sex crimes, inappropriate behaviour among prelates, political infighting at the Vatican, and the existence of a clandestine gay cabal at the highest levels in Rome?
Read more: The crimes of the Catholic Church: not in our names
- Written by: Bishop Philip
The Delivery of the Portsmouth Pastoral Plan means the abolition of the Department for Pastoral Formation ! Read in Full >
- Written by: Chris McDonnell
So today is the day before. At eight o’clock GMT, Thursday, Benedict XVI will relinquish the papacy and retire. At that point the Church enters unknown territory in modern times. What will happen in the next few weeks as the Conclave meets and finally selects a successor to Benedict is all a matter of conjecture. Names are tossed around by the media, anxious for a story or just wanting to report plain gossip. Articles are published that suggest intrigue and plot, usually unsourced, but they whet the appetite and keep people talking.