The pope is opening the way to recognize as saints those who act in ways they know will lead to their certain death.

As head of a new Vatican department, Cardinal Farrell is in a position to bring lay people into positions of leadership in the church.

The World Communion of Reformed Churches signed a declaration this week endorsing the 1999 Catholic-Lutheran agreement on how Christians might be worthy of salvation in the eyes of God.

Those who know Bishop Delpini well describe him as “a very spiritual man, humble but not submissive, a great worker, far from the profile of a manager-bishop, very attentive to the personal relationship with priests.”

The proper application of Catholic moral reasoning could be seen to ultimately support the E.C.H.R.’s final decision to withdraw life support.

The 83-year-old cardinal died unexpectedly in his sleep July 5 while on vacation in southern Germany.