Vatican City, Jul 2, 2020 / 05:10 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis offered his condolences to Benedict XVI Thursday following the death of his brother. In a letter to the pope emeritus dated July 2, the pope expressed his “heartfelt sympathy” after the death of Msgr. Georg Ratzinger July 1 …

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Jul 1, 2020 / 04:30 am MT (CNA).- Benedict XVI’s older brother Georg Ratzinger died Wednesday, just a little more than one week after the pope emeritus’ visit. Msgr. Georg Ratzinger died in Bavaria at the age of 96 on July 1. The pope emeritus …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jun 22, 2020 / 06:00 am MT (CNA).- Pope emeritus Benedict XVI arrived back in Rome Monday after a four-day trip to Germany to visit his ailing brother. The Diocese of Regensburg reported June 22 that 93-year-old Benedict XVI said goodbye to his 96-year-old brother, …

CNA Staff, Jun 19, 2020 / 02:32 am MT (CNA).- Pope emeritus Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass with his ailing brother on the feast of the Sacred Heart during his first full day in Germany Friday. A June 19 statement from the Diocese of Regensburg said that after Benedict XVI …

CNA Staff, Jun 18, 2020 / 06:35 am MT (CNA).- Pope emeritus Benedict XVI is making a private visit to Germany to see his ailing brother Msgr. Georg Ratzinger. CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language partner agency, said June 18 it had confirmed with sources close to the pope emeritus that Benedict …

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Catholic Telegraph magazine! I am delighted to introduce this old friend in an attractive new format. In the 189 years since Bishop Edward Fenwick founded this publication as the voice of the local Church, it has taken many forms – weekly, bi-weekly and …

CNA Staff, May 25, 2020 / 06:00 am MT (CNA).- Archbishop Georg Ganswein has spent most of the last two decades standing next to the person with the microphone, in his service as an aide to both Pope emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. But a new book collects the …

CNA Staff, May 15, 2020 / 03:00 am MT (CNA).- John Paul II was a “liberating restorer of the Church” in the turbulent years after the Second Vatican Council, Benedict XVI has said in a letter marking the 100th anniversary of the saint’s birth. In a message to Cardinal Stanisław …

by Hannah Brockhaus Rome, Italy, Apr 16, 2020 / 09:06 am (CNA).- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated his 93rd birthday Thursday at his Vatican residence during Italy’s coronavirus lockdown. The retired pope, who lives in the Mater Ecclesia monastery on Vatican grounds, did not have any visitors due to the …

Question: I know of Freemasons who are also practicing Catholics. I always thought that this was forbidden, but I was told that these men had permission from their pastors to join. Is it permissible for a Catholic to become a Mason? Is this addressed in canon law? Answer: The Church …