By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON (CNS) — During Pope Benedict XVI‘s visit to the White House in 2008, his thoughts turned to the First Amendment and its enshrinement of the free practice of religion. He told President George W. Bush that the idea of religious freedom as expressed …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has ordered several changes to the Masses and liturgies that will mark the inauguration of the next pope’s pontificate. Rites and gestures that are not strictly sacramental will take place either before a Mass or in a …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph UPDATE: Superintendent Jim Rigg confirmed that St. James of the Valley in Wyoming, Ohio was closed Friday, Feb. 22 for the same reason as St. Joseph in Over the Rhine— illness. Officials from St. James of the Valley could not be reached for further …

By Eileen Connelly, OSU The Catholic Telegraph  Bishop Macram Max Gassis, a Comboni Missionary once proposed as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, visited the archdiocese Feb. 15-17 to discuss his work as a human rights advocate in his home country of Sudan. His time in Cincinnati included a …

  Curious what Pope Benedict XVI‘s immediate successor will look like? Almost certainly he will be chosen from among the 117 Cardinal-electors pictured below. A cardinal must be below the age of 80 to vote and participate in the conclave. While a person does not need to be a cardinal …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI is considering making some changes to the conclave rules and rituals before he leaves office Feb. 28, the Vatican spokesman confirmed. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the spokesman, told reporters Feb. 20 that any papal document is more …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, 70, is a personal ambassador of the Catholic Church’s emergency relief and development aid and probably the best-known Latin American member of the College of Cardinals. In May 2011, he was elected to a …

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati celebrated the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion Feb. 17 with 1,023 adults and children seeking entrance into the Roman Catholic Church. The Rite of Election is celebrated with adults and children who are unbaptized and preparing to receive the sacraments of baptism, …

A few weeks ago more than 70,000 people live and more than 100 million at home watched the Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers in a classic Super Bowl contest. My wife and I on the other hand didn’t see a single snap. It’s not that we don’t like …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Calling this an unusual time for him and for the church — but not specifically mentioning his resignation — Pope Benedict XVI thanked people for their affection and asked them to continue their prayers. A roar of applause rose up …