December 31, 2022 ON THE DEATH OF POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI Dear Clergy, Consecrated Women and Men, and all the Faithful of the Diocese of Honolulu, Peace be with you! As we received news of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on this day in Rome, we thank God for giving us the leadership […]
Benedict asks forgiveness in response to Munich report
By Carol Glatz and Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — At the age of 94, retired Pope Benedict XVI said he knows he will soon stand before God’s judgment and he prayed that he would be forgiven for his shortcomings, including in handling allegations of clerical sexual abuse. “Even though, as I […]
In new biography, Pope Benedict says world threatened by humanism
By Catholic News Service MUNICH — In a newly published biography, Retired Pope Benedict XVI said the Catholic Church is threatened by a “worldwide dictatorship of seemingly humanist ideologies.” He cited same-sex marriage, abortion and the “creation of humans in the laboratory” as examples. The retired pope, 93, said: “Modern society is in the process […]
Benedict wants his name removed as co-author of book
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — At the request of retired Pope Benedict XVI, his name will be removed as co-author of a book defending priestly celibacy, said Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Vatican official who coordinated work on the book. “Considering the polemics provoked by the publication of the book, ‘From the […]
Commentary: Event of the decade
By Catholic News Service This editorial appeared online Dec. 26 on the website of the Catholic Register, the Toronto-based national Catholic Canadian newspaper. From a Catholic perspective, few if any dates were more significant during the past decade than Feb. 11, 2013. On that day Pope Benedict XVI, citing his age and declining health, broke […]
10th anniversary reprint: The canonization of St. Damien de Veuster
This is a reprint of the story published in the Oct. 16, 2009, Hawaii Catholic Herald on the canonization of St. Damien de Veuster. Oct. 11 marks the 10th anniversary of that historic event. Hawaii has a saint! ‘It has finally happened and we are all here. God is good.’ By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic […]
Pope Benedict visits hill town outside Rome for walk, dinner
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Retired Pope Benedict XVI visited the hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo in his first visit to the papal summer residence in four years. In a statement released July 26, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed the retired pope’s visit after a local newspaper, Castelli Notizie, reported […]
Pope Benedict, 90, celebrates birthday with beer, pretzels
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A bit of Bavaria, including German beer and pretzels, came to the Vatican to help celebrate retired Pope Benedict XVI’s 90th birthday. “Thank you for bringing Bavaria here,” he told his guests, commenting on the beauty of gathering together under a blue Roman sky with white […]