Secular media coverage of papal transition, ‘mix of ignorance and malice’

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph The resignation of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, from the office of the papacy may go down as one of the biggest media events of 2013. Many newspapers, radio stations and television channels devoted time and resources to covering everything from Benedict’s last …
Cardinals agree to media blackout of pre-conclave meetings

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Citing unauthorized press reports on their preparatory meetings for the upcoming papal election, the College of Cardinals agreed to a media blackout similar to one observed before the previous conclave in 2005. The change was announced March 6 in …
@CathTelegraph sends 1,000th tweet
By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph On Friday, March 1, The Catholic Telegraph sent out it’s 1000th tweet. The Catholic Telegraph joined Twitter in March of 2009, sending its first tweet on March 4. The first tweet was simple; “First Tweet … hello everybody.” The @CathTelegraph account preceded the current …
Sede Vacante continues: Cardinals discuss church needs, don’t set conclave date

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After completing their third pre-conclave meeting, the College of Cardinals still had not announced a date for the conclave. Instead, they used the March 4 and 5 meetings to discuss needs of the church. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican …
Archdiocese releases school ‘Vision’ update
Press Release The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has released a comprehensive update on the first six months of implementation of “Lighting the Way: A Vision for Catholic Schools.” The Vision, which was unveiled last August, details an array of initiatives to ensure a strong, vibrant future for the 114 Catholic schools …
Cardinals send retired pope note of thanks, call for prayers
Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The College of Cardinals thanked retired Pope Benedict XVI for his “tireless work” and example of “generous pastoral concern.” Meeting during the second day of pre-conclave gatherings at the Vatican, the 148 cardinals present sent a telegram to the former pope, who moved …
Catholic Thoughts: Easter a time for Catholics to come home
Thousands of Catholics in our archdiocese will come to Mass on Easter Sunday. At least 40 percent of these good people haven’t been to church since Christmas. For their sake and for the sake of all of us who are so pleased to see them, I offer a few instructions …
What keeps me Catholic? I can’t hide
One thing that both amuses and frightens me about Jesus is His table manners or, better and more honestly put, His table mates. In contrast to the ascetical practices of John the Baptist, Jesus is accused of being “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” …
Prayer and trembling: Cardinals recount experience of conclave

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Chanting the Litany of the Saints, asking a host of holy men and women to help them, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel in procession, aware of their enormous responsibility to elect a new pope. Less than half of the …
Between popes, a time of speculation and suspense

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The period immediately following a pontificate is one of excited speculation, more or less loose, about the identity of the next pope. Though secrecy rules do not forbid cardinals from naming their preferences, custom and prudence effectively do. In …