News/International

What's he going to talk about? Everyone has their own idea about what Pope Benedict XVI will discuss during his first papal visit to the United States. So, to make it easy and eliminate the guesswork, His Holiness has given us all a little glimpse of what's in store.

This newspaper is heading into some uncharted territory (at least for us) in our coverage of Pope Benedict's first North American visit. First, we are experimenting with this blog and offering daily news coverage on the web site. And, second, we will be collaborating with Salt+Light TV , Canada's Catholic television network, to provide a richer Canadian perspective on the news.

 

This newspaper is heading into some uncharted territory (at least for us) in our coverage of Pope Benedict's first North American visit. First, we are experimenting with this blog and offering daily news coverage on the web site. And, second, we will be collaborating with Salt+Light TV , Canada's Catholic television network, to provide a richer Canadian perspective on the news.

 

{mosimage}CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Zimbabweans will risk their lives for change if they need to, a church official said nearly a week after the presidential election, when results still had not been announced.

We already know tickets for one of the public events for Pope Benedict XVI are the hottest thing in town — and almost impossible to come by. But, even with as tightly scripted a schedule as there is planned for the papal visit to the United States, there's always a way to squeeze in some last-minute issues.

Witness the decision made by the Vatican to include two brief visits with American Jewish leaders. The New York Times reported April 4 that two new events have been included in Benedict XVI's schedule. In Washington April 17, after holding a meeting with other religious leaders at the John Paul II Cultural Centre, he will have a quick chat in a sideroom with about 50 Jewish representatives. The Times reports that he will offer greetings for the Jewish Passoover, which starts two days later.

We already know tickets for one of the public events for Pope Benedict XVI are the hottest thing in town — and almost impossible to come by. But, even with as tightly scripted a schedule as there is planned for the papal visit to the United States, there's always a way to squeeze in some last-minute issues.

Witness the decision made by the Vatican to include two brief visits with American Jewish leaders. The New York Times reported April 4 that two new events have been included in Benedict XVI's schedule. In Washington April 17, after holding a meeting with other religious leaders at the John Paul II Cultural Centre, he will have a quick chat in a sideroom with about 50 Jewish representatives. The Times reports that he will offer greetings for the Jewish Passoover, which starts two days later.

{mosimage}CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Southern African church leaders urged Zimbabweans and their leaders to exercise restraint as results of the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections were announced.

{mosimage}Catholic voters may well decide who gets to be the next president of the United States. It’s a role that by now should be fairly familiar for American Catholics.

Well, I've survived the first cut to get media accreditation to observe Pope Benedict XVI during his first visit to the United States, April 15-20, 2008. Come Tuesday, April 15, when Pope Benedict arrives at Andrews Airforce Base at roughly 4 p.m., I will be present in the U.S. capital city, well briefed and prepared to report.

This itself is no mean feat. Some 5,000 people applied to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for accreditation. I made it through the first cut. Now it's a bit of a waiting game to find out which of the Pope's dozen or so events I will be able to attend. The media folks at the USCCB are doing a bit of triage as they try to squeeze as many of us demanding journalists and observers into the actual space available at each venue. I pity them.

Well, I've survived the first cut to get media accreditation to observe Pope Benedict XVI during his first visit to the United States, April 15-20, 2008. Come Tuesday, April 15, when Pope Benedict arrives at Andrews Airforce Base at roughly 4 p.m., I will be present in the U.S. capital city, well briefed and prepared to report.

This itself is no mean feat. Some 5,000 people applied to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for accreditation. I made it through the first cut. Now it's a bit of a waiting game to find out which of the Pope's dozen or so events I will be able to attend. The media folks at the USCCB are doing a bit of triage as they try to squeeze as many of us demanding journalists and observers into the actual space available at each venue. I pity them.