Vatican Archives - Page 18 of 138

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Traditionalist bishop criticises Pope in Kazakhstan

September 15, 2022

Just as Pope Francis was warning Kazakhstan’s bishops about fuelling nostalgia for the past during his visit to the country, one traditionalist cleric suggested Francis’ participation in an interfaith conference could imply papal endorsement of a “supermarket of religions”. As first reported by the Associated Press, Bishop Athanasius Schneider – auxiliary bishop of Astana –

The Pope needs to respect the Latin Mass

September 14, 2022

The traditional Latin Mass hit headlines recently after actor Shia LaBeouf announced his embrace of Catholicism because of what he experienced at the Traditional Latin Mass, the standard liturgy beginning with the Council of Trent until the Second Vatican Council. Unlike Benedict XVI – who lifted restrictions on the Mass – Pope Francis has issued

Having clamped down on Order of Malta, will Vatican take clericalist approach to Synodal Path?

September 14, 2022

As predicted, the progressive Synodal Path capped off a three-day meeting in Germany by voting for a permanent council of clerics and laypeople to oversee the local Church. This “decision-making body” will decide upon “pastoral planning, future perspectives and budgetary issues” which are not decided at the diocesan level. In the end, 93 per cent

A rival to Tagle: why Singapore’s Cardinal Goh could become the next pope

September 13, 2022

While Filipino prelate, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, is seen as the leading candidate to succeed Pope Francis – should the Pontiff follow the precedent set by his predecessor, Benedict XVI, and announce his resignation in the near-future – head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, Cardinal William Goh, is emerging as another papabile from

The Pope’s faustian pact

September 12, 2022

While Pope Francis last week repeated his previous warning about a global conflict, he should perhaps be more concerned about his own faustian pact. The Pontiff has, of course, already come in for criticism for his stance towards the war in Ukraine. While the Pope praised Ukrainians for fighting for their survival, he has said

Of the Holy Spirit and conclave

September 08, 2022

Almost my first act as I stood on the verge of being received into the Catholic Church, was to buy a book on the worst popes throughout history; followed by a book which covered the whole range – on all the popes. Armed with that, there could be no disillusions; no blame, no buyers’ regret.

Clericalism vs Synodality: how does the Pope reconcile Order of Malta overhaul with other reforms?

September 08, 2022

Last weekend, Pope Francis issued a new constitution for the Order of Malta, appointing a provisional Sovereign Council as part of an ongoing renewal process, ending years of dispute with the Order about its sovereignty. The Decree established the new Constitutional Charter, revoked the High Offices, and dissolved the Sovereign Council, while calling for an

The Emperor’s New-Rite Clothes

September 07, 2022

The Vatican risks backing itself into a corner, says Hugh Somerville Knapman