News/International

Yvonne Delcamize Simon, a 62-year-old widow, is one of 58 Haitians who received keys to their new earthquake-proof houses Feb. 5 as part of D&P’s contribution to earthquake relief in Haiti.

58 Haitian families housed in first phase of D&P housing project

By

There are 58 Haitian families in earthquake-proof homes thanks to a Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace project that has introduced new building technology to the Caribbean nation.

Aides assist Pope Benedict XVI as he walks in procession from the portico of St. Peter's Basilica for Ash Wednesday Mass at the Vatican Feb. 13

A closeup view of a tired Pope

By

TORONTO - The Pope who loved Mozart gave it his all. The Catholic Register’s own Allison Hunwicks had a musician’s closeup view of Pope Benedict XVI in the final weeks of his papacy, investing the last ounce of his strength in the liturgy and the music he so loved.

St. Valentine is pictured in a stained-glass window at the Basilica of St. Valentine in Terni, Italy, Feb. 10. Professor Giulio Silan says that little is known about St. Valentine, but he's certain the third-century priest has nothing to do with exchanging cards, flowers and chocolates in the name of love.

Connecting the dots of Valentine's Day

By

Giulio Silano may know little about St. Valentine, but he's certain the third-century priest has nothing to do with exchanging cards, flowers and chocolates in the name of love.

The Vatican announced Feb. 13 that it had begun accepting credit cards again after more than six weeks of not being able to accept credit- and debit-card payment.

Don't leave home without them: Credit cards welcome again at Vatican

By

VATICAN CITY - After more than six weeks of not being able to accept credit- and debit-card payments in the Vatican Museums and shops, the Vatican announced Feb. 13 that it had begun accepting plastic again.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, concludes a special Mass for engaged couples at the Basilica of St. Valentine in Terni, Italy, Feb. 10. Couples pledged their love to each other during the annual "promise Ma ss," held in advance of Valentine's Day. While some details of St. Valentine's life are lost to history, the local diocese believes he was the martyred 3rd-century bishop of Terni.

St. Valentine: The stuff of legend is matter of prayer in Italian town

By

TERNI, Italy - The liturgical feast of St. Valentine, removed from general Church calendar in the late 1960s, continues to be celebrated with special Masses, a marathon and fireworks in Terni, which claims the saint as its former bishop.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Feb. 13. The pope surprised the world Feb. 11 by announcing that he no longer has strength to exercise his ministry and will retire at the end of the month.

Sadness, celebration mark Pope's first public event since announcement

By

VATICAN CITY - Sadness and celebration marked Pope Benedict XVI's first public appearance since announcing Feb. 11 that he was stepping down.

Pope Benedict XVI gestures as he leaves his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Feb. 13. The pope surprised the world Feb. 11 by announcing that he no longer has strength to exercise his ministry and will retire at the end of the month.

Pope Benedict thanks faithful, asks them to pray for next pope

By

VATICAN CITY - At his first public appearance since he announced that he would resign at the end of February, Pope Benedict XVI thanked the faithful for their love and prayers and asked them to pray for his successor.

Pilgrims have their cameras ready as Pope Benedict XVI makes his way through the crowd in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before a general audience in 2007. The 85-year-old pontiff said he no longer has the energy to exercise his ministry over the universal Church and will resign at the end of the month.

To Benedict, the Church came first

By

TORONTO - Clarity and charity, the Gospel proclaimed and Jesus at the heart of the Church will always be the legacy of the great teaching Pope who led off the 21st century.

Pope Benedict XVI attends a Feb. 11 meeting with cardinals at the Vatican announcing he will resign at the end of the month. The 85-year-old pontiff said he no longer has the energy to exercise his ministry over the universal church.

In hindsight, Pope Benedict's resignation seems almost predictable

By

VATICAN CITY - As much as he astonished the world when he announced his resignation Feb. 11, Pope Benedict XVI's decision seems almost predictable in hindsight. Given his previous statements on the subject and his recent signs of aging, one might say that people should have seen it coming.

The cover of a cardinal's prayer book from the last papal transition is imprinted with the Vatican insignia representing a vacant Holy See. The emblem is used between the death of a pope and the election of a new one -- a period known as the "interregnum ." The Holy See will be considered vacant with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI Feb. 28.

Pope Benedict's resignation will set in motion period of transition

By

VATICAN CITY - While the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is a first for the church in centuries, it also leads to a complicated period of transition that ends in the election of a new pope.

Pope Benedict XVI is shown in side-by-side images from 2005 and 2013. At left is the pope in a photo taken May 4, 2005, about two weeks after his election. At right is an image taken Feb. 9 at the Vatican. The 85-year-old German pontiff announced Feb. 1 1 that he was stepping down saying his does not have the strength to exercise ministry over the universal church.

Pope Benedict shows signs of aging, but Vatican reports no illness

By

VATICAN CITY - From the moment he was elected pope at the age of 78 in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has kept a schedule that appeared light compared to that of Blessed John Paul II, but busy for a man who already had a pacemaker and who wanted to retire to study, write and pray when he turned 75.

Page 529 of 650