Vatican News

Rome, Italy, Jul 29, 2010 / 05:18 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic clergy of mainland China were encouraged in their work towards communion with Rome and greater unity in their communities this month. In a letter from the head of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, they were urged to "continue without fear on the path of holiness, unity and communion."

Vatican City, Jul 28, 2010 / 07:54 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Similarities between the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal John Henry Newman are detailed in Wednesday's edition of Il Foglio. According to the author, at least one major element unites their thought, their aversion to a relativistic society.

Vatican City, Jul 28, 2010 / 11:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Just under two weeks ago Russian officials accepted the credentials of Archbishop Antonio Mennini as the first papal nuncio to their country. The event ushers in a new era of full diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Russian Federation.

London, England, Jul 28, 2010 / 06:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The importance of Great Britain's relationship with the Holy See could surprise critics during the papal visit there this fall. In spite of the complications in planning the joint state and pastoral visit, the U.K.'s special representative for the occasion is predicting it will be a "terrific success."

Vatican City, Jul 26, 2010 / 09:58 pm (CNA).- The apostolic nuncio to Spain, Archbishop Renzo Fratini, recently sent a message on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI to those celebrating Grandparents Day on July 26, the feast day of Sts. Joachim and Ann.

Vatican City, Jul 26, 2010 / 11:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- St. Anne's Church, the pontifical parish in the Vatican, celebrated the feast of its patroness and her husband on Monday. During Mass to mark the occasion, the cardinal vicar general of the Vatican prayed that Christian families would "wake up" and fulfill their purpose by openly loving each other and bearing witness to the faith.

Rome, Italy, Jul 26, 2010 / 06:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After being closed for three years for restructuring and restoration, the Apostolic Vatican Library will reopen on September 20. The renewed facilities will provide easier access to the wealth of information the library houses.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Jul 25, 2010 / 11:21 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After Sunday's Angelus, Pope Benedict remembered the victims of a tragic incident during a celebration in Germany this weekend.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Jul 25, 2010 / 10:27 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The "Our Father" helps us to confront the difficulties in our lives, said the Holy Father on Sunday. In reciting the prayer, we never find ourselves alone as our voices are "intertwined with that of the Church."

Vatican City, Jul 23, 2010 / 05:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Coins bearing the image of Pope Benedict XVI are now in open circulation within Vatican walls. As of this month, Vatican visitors will find that 50 cent pieces are being given as change at places such as the gas station, pharmacy and post office.

Vatican City, Jul 23, 2010 / 02:55 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI's vacation time is now being dedicated to writing the third volume in what could safely be called the "Jesus of Nazareth" series. The new work will seek to shed light on the story of Jesus' childhood from the Gospels.

Rome, Italy, Jul 23, 2010 / 02:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Legionaries of Christ has made public the decree that describes the powers given to Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, Pope Benedict XVI's delegate to the religious congregation. The delegate, whose primary task will be to conduct the revision of the order's constitutions, will have full authority over Legion superiors and will coordinate the apostolic visitation of the Regnum Christi Movement.

Vatican City, Jul 22, 2010 / 01:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Pope's $250,000 donation for the reconstruction of a Haitian school is to be delivered today. The large monetary gift constitutes just a small part of the aid the Holy Father distributes every year to those in need.

Rome, Italy, Jul 22, 2010 / 05:27 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Benedict XVI is now the seventh oldest Pope since reliable records began being collected in the year 1400, according to a U.S. statistician. In the words of Pope Benedict himself, however, age is not as important as wisdom.

CNA STAFF, Jul 21, 2010 / 01:12 pm (CNA).- A Mexican man is claiming responsibility for the cyber attack that made Google direct any search using the word "vaticano" to the website pedofilo.com.  In what some might call a publicity stunt, Efrain Ibarra Ibarra of the technology company Guion Bajo in Monterrey, Mexico admitted he was the one behind the "Google bombing."

Rome, Italy, Jul 21, 2010 / 07:13 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A new children's book has been published under Pope Benedict XVI's name. It presents a collection of the Holy Father's descriptions of Jesus' relationship with his "first companions," taken from his catecheses at general audiences over the past five years.

Rome, Italy, Jul 19, 2010 / 12:11 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- An apparent glitch in Google's ranking system for web searches led the company to make a change over the weekend so that the Vatican's website was not placed below a site with information on pedophilia. According to an Italian technology website, the anomaly leaves many questions unanswered.

Vatican City, Jul 19, 2010 / 10:16 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While the Holy Father spends July in the serenity of the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo, he is dedicating time to penning a number of important documents. Among the pieces on his to-do list are the speeches to be given in the U.K. this September.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Jul 18, 2010 / 08:48 am (CNA).- Before Sunday's Angelus prayer from the intimate courtyard of his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the need to listen to the Word of God. As Mary does in Sunday's Gospel, we must learn to choose the "best portion" in our relationship with the Lord.

CNA STAFF, Jul 18, 2010 / 04:51 am (CNA).- On Thursday, the Church will celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdelene, one of the most prominent women mentioned in the New Testament.