VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As the Catholic Church elects a new pope, a cardinal reminded his fellow electors that true Christian leadership begins not in control, but in surrender to mystery. “We so often feel like masters of God, perfect knowers of the truth, while we are only pilgrims to whom the Word has been…
ROME (CNS) — The rules and rituals for the election of a new pope say that immediately after his election, he goes into the sacristy of the Sistine Chapel and puts on “the garments that are appropriate to him.” That’s all that is written. For more than 100 year that meant that the Gammarelli family’s…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As the Catholic Church’s cardinals prepare to elect a new pope, they must be wary of “elegant speeches” that hide a subtle cruelty toward the poor and vulnerable, said the Vatican’s former doctrinal chief. Celebrating a memorial Mass for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica May 1, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández,…
Reading 1 Acts 5:27-33 When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book. The rule book is the apostolic constitution, “Universi Dominici Gregis” (“Shepherd of the Lord’s Whole Flock”), which was issued by St. John Paul II in 1996 and…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The next pope needs to continue the path set by Pope Francis: Promoting a church that is welcoming, listens to everyone and unifies, some members of the College of Cardinals told reporters April 29. As members of the College of Cardinals head most days to the Vatican’s New Synod Hall for…