Pope Benedict’s German biographer, Peter Seewald, confirmed that nine weeks before he died, Benedict revealed that insomnia was the “central motive” for his resignation.
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis wishes “peace and every good” to all those celebrating the Lunar New Year
“On this joyful occasion,” Pope Francis said he also wished to express his “spiritual closeness to all those who are going through moments of trial caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: Cardinal Pell’s complicated (and critical) relationship with Pope Francis
Cardinal George Pell, who died on Jan. 10, left behind an article and a memorandum that revealed his thoughts about Pope Francis, his actions, and future conclaves, among many others.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Australia’s Cardinal Pell dies suddenly at 81
A leading Australian Catholic and close advisor to Pope Francis, the cardinal had participated in the funeral of his friend, Pope Benedict XVI, just last week.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis denounces arms race, death penalty and Ukraine war in speech to diplomats
Pope Francis also flatly rejected that there is a “right to abortion” and hit out strongly against what he called “ideological colonization” as well as gender theory.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis meets with Hong Kong’s Cardinal Zen the day after Benedict XVI’s funeral
Though Cardinal Zen is sometimes considered an adversary of Pope Francis, today’s audience reveals that there is a deeper bond of faith and friendliness between the Hong Kong cardinal and the Argentine pope than many realize.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Pope Francis presides over historic funeral for Benedict XVI
The bells tolled, the organ played, and the congregation of 50,000 Romans and pilgrims applauded warmly as pallbearers brought the casket of Pope Benedict XVI onto the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
What you need to know about the historic funeral of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Francis will preside at the requiem Mass and impart the final blessing before the burial of Benedict XVI at a solemn ceremony marked by simplicity in St. Peter’s Square on the morning of Jan. 5.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis isn’t slowing down in 2023
Pope Francis’ agenda appears daunting even for a younger man, but, as he has said on more than one occasion, “one governs from the head, not from the knee.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Thousands pay their final respects to Benedict XVI as his body lies in state in St. Peter’s Basilica
There was not the air of sadness that pervaded those who paid their last respects to John Paul II when he died. It seems that the mourning for Benedict took place around the time of his resignation.