Tag: francis

Tens of thousands of faithful for a last farewell to Ratzinger: tomorrow the funeral presided by Pope Francis (with a precedent in 1802)

VATICAN CITY – Tomorrow is the day of last farewell to Benedetto XVI, Pope Emeritus Joseph Ratzinger, who passed away on December 31st: at 9.30am Italian time (3.30am in Ontario), the funeral will take place in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Pope Francis who today, during the general audience, recalled Ratzinger as a “great teacher of catechesis” with “sharp and polite” thinking, then invoking his help to “rediscover in Christ the joy of believing and the hope of living”. Applause and choirs: ‘Benedetto santo subito’ (saint immediately), chanted some of the faithful present.  (more…)

Pope Francis in Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut from 24 to 29 July: all the details

 

VATICAN CITY – He had repeatedly expressed his desire to go to Canada where the Church is engaged in an important process of reconciliation with the indigenous people. And this morning the official announcement arrived: Pope Francis will go to Canada, from 24 to 29 July (when we will leave to come back to Rome), and will stop in Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut, “accepting the invitation of the civil authorities, ecclesiastical and indigenous communities” as the director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said. This is the Pope’s 38th apostolic journey, which will touch the cities of Edmonton, Québec and Iqaluit. (more…)