Faith

Pope Francis praises retired Pope Benedict's writings on faith and politics

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Tue, 08 May 2018 10:44:25 -0400

VATICAN – For more than 50 years, the writings of retired Pope Benedict XVI on the relationship between faith and politics have insisted that the measure of human freedom is the extent to which each person acknowledges being dependent on the love of God, Pope Francis wrote.

Blurred lines: Vatican manipulation of photo becomes the story

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:59:31 -0400

WASHINGTON – What was meant to be an intellectual tribute to Pope Francis has instead become the backdrop to the latest tempest over transparency and this pontificate.

Pope updates resignation norms for bishops, prelates in Roman Curia

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 13:06:14 -0500

VATICAN – Updating the norms and regulations governing the resignation of bishops and of Roman Curia department heads who are not cardinals, Pope Francis said they will continue to hold office until he accepts their resignations.

Pope Francis, retired Pope Benedict praise Patriarch Bartholomew

cns@catholicnews.com (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:00:00 -0400

VATICAN CITY – Defending religious freedom, fighting indifference to attacks on human dignity and promoting care of creation are obligations that Orthodox and Catholics share and areas where Pope Francis said he and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople are in deep harmony.

Pope Benedict: Yearning for mercy is sign of longing for God's love

cns@catholicnews.com (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:00:00 -0400

VATICAN CITY - Although he lives a relatively hidden life in a villa in the Vatican Gardens, retired Pope Benedict XVI continues to study modern theological questions and, occasionally, to comment on them publicly.

Church voice matters

editor@catholicregister.org (Catholic Register Editorial) — Thu, 07 May 2015 08:00:00 -0400

Some time next month the Vatican will release the Pope��Ƶapp much-anticipated encyclical on the environment. It will be the first time a pope has devoted an encyclical to environmental matters and already critics are questioning Pope Francis’ qualifications to address this complex scientific issue.

French carmaker Renault gives Pope electric minivans

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:24:13 -0400

VATICAN CITY - Thanks to a French automaker and an Italian utility, Pope Benedict XVI now has a pair of all-electric minivans and a series of recharging stations with which to power them.

Two custom-made editions of Renault's Kangoo Maxi Z.E. cars were delivered personally to the Pope Sept. 5 at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo.

At a Vatican press conference the next day, representatives of Renault told reporters the two cars were made specifically for the Vatican.

The white version, with the papal stem on the front doors, was designed for the Pope to use, probably at Castel Gandolfo, but Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said it also could be used on other occasions when the Pope is in the midst of a crowd.

The roof over the back seats opens and the side windows are removable, so it can be used as a popemobile, the Renault representatives said. It also has a retractable step to make it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.

On a full charge, they said, the Pope's car can cover 160 km. While they did not say how fast the Pope's Kangoo Maxi Z.E. could go, Renault says its unmodified version can reach speeds up to 125 km an hour.

The second Kangoo Maxi Z.E. given to the Pope was designed for the Vatican police force, the "gendarmeria Vaticana." Painted blue, the minivan has police lights on top and a white-and-gold stripe around the sides.

Pope Benedict, the Italian police who patrol St. Peter's Square, and the staff of Castel Gandolfo and the Vatican press office already use electric vehicles, which is why the Italian electric company ENEL has installed recharging stations at the Vatican as well as at the summer villa.