The private secretary of Benedict XVI, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, has defended the former pope and criticised the Munich abuse report which made international headlines when it was released in January.
Pope Benedict XVI
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Should there be a pope emeritus? What Pope Benedict’s retirement says about future former popes
On this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” we examine the lessons from Benedict XVI’s post-papacy—and what needs to change to protect future popes who retire.
Posted inFaith, The Word
The words we (and the church) need to learn to say: ‘I’m sorry’
Feb. 27, the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Today’s Gospel reminds us of the need to acknowledge failures and ask for forgiveness.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Podcast: Is Pope Benedict’s request for forgiveness enough?
Although Benedict expresses regret that abuse happened on his watch, he does not take responsibility for any specific cases, and his lawyers maintain his innocence.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Pope Francis to visit Malta, where St. Paul washed ashore 2,000 years ago
Pope Francis will visit Malta from April 2-3, a Vatican spokesman said. More than 90 percent of the country’s 460,000 people profess to be Catholic.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Pope Francis sends Pope Benedict ‘a beautiful letter’ showing ‘full support,’ former pope’s secretary says
In the letter, Pope Francis “speaks as a shepherd, as a brother” and “expressed once again his complete trust, his full support and also his prayers,” said the secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein.
Posted inFaith, Speeches
Read: Pope Benedict XVI’s penitential letter on Munich sexual abuse report
“Each individual case of sexual abuse is appalling and irreparable,” Pope Benedict wrote. “The victims of sexual abuse have my deepest sympathy, and I feel great sorrow for each individual case.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Benedict asks for forgiveness in a ‘confession’ responding to Munich sex abuse report
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI has written a “mea culpa” in which he asks forgiveness for “the abuses and the errors” that occurred when he held different positions of great responsibility in the church.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Podcast: How Benedict XVI should respond to the German abuse report
This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell discuss Gerry’s interview with Hans Zollner, S.J., a leading abuse prevention expert based at the Vatican.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Father Hans Zollner on the German sex abuse report, Pope Benedict and the future of the church
Father Zollner is the president of the Pontifical Gregorian University’s Center for Child Protection. He has been one of the few people in Rome willing to speak on the record about the Munich report.