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A woman films the inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama and spectators watch the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America in New York's Times Square January 20, 2009. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES) Evony Henry raises her hand in prayer at the end of U.S. President Barack Obama's inauguration, while watching a broadcast of the events from Washington, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York, January 20, 2009 . Traders watch the inaugural speech of President Barack Obama on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

On Judas Iscariot and Matthias "Never Despair of God's Mercy" VATICAN CITY, OCT. 18, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience, dedicated to present the figures of Judas Iscariot and Matthias. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: On completing today the review of the Twelve Apostles called directly by Jesus during his earthly life, we cannot fail to mention the one who always appears in the last place: Judas Iscariot. We want to associate him with the person who was later chosen to substitute him, namely, Matthias. The name Judas...

The Apostle Bartholomew His "Words Present a Double Aspect of Jesus' Identity" VATICAN CITY, OCT. 4, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience, dedicated to present the figure of the Apostle Bartholomew. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: In the series of apostles called by Jesus during his earthly life, today our attention is caught by the Apostle Bartholomew. In the early lists of the Twelve he always appears before Matthew, while the name of the one who precedes him changes: in some cases it is Philip (cf. Matthew 10:3;...

The Apostle Philip "He Invites Us to Come and See Jesus" VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 6, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today at the general audience, held in St. Peter's Square. The Pope dedicated his talk to present the figure of the Apostle Philip. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: Continuing to sketch the portrait of the various apostles, as we have been doing for some weeks, we meet today with Philip. In the lists of the Twelve he always appears in fifth place (in Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13),...

Apostle John, the Seer of Patmos "The Wounded and Dead Lamb Conquers!" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 23, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address at today's general audience, dedicated to the Apostle John, whom he presented on this occasion as "the seer of Patmos." The meditation is part of the series of reflections he is offering on the Church and the apostles. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, In the last catechesis we meditated on the figure of the Apostle John. At first we tried to see how much can be known of his life. Then,...

9 August, 2006 VATICAN - MIDDLE EASTPope: "God is love". A new appeal for an end to conflict in the Mid-EastAt the end of a meeting dedicated to catechesis, Benedict affirmed that a ceasefire "is possible" if "reason, goodwill, faith in the other, implementation of commitments assumed and cooperation between responsible partners" prevail. His teaching was focused on the apostle John and the love of God, a unique element of Christianity. Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Citing Paul VI and John Paul II, Benedict XVI today renewed his appeal for peace in the Middle East at the end of his weekly...

2 August, 2006 VATICAN - MIDDLE EAST "Heart full of sorrow", pope urges prayer and effective action in Middle East At a special audience for ministrants, Benedict XVI condemned the massacre in Qana and the “spilling of innocent blood from whichever part it comes”. He called on 35,000 altar servers to be “witnesses” of nearness to Jesus, and to heed calls to the priesthood. Vatican City (AsiaNews) – With "a heart full of sorrow" and the "chilling images of mangled bodies of so many people, especially children," before his eyes, Benedict XVI appealed once again for prayers "for the dear,...

Scenes from “MySpace: The Movie,” created by David Lehre. The 11-minute parody of... MySpace and its users has had millions of hits since it first appeared on the site YouTube on Jan. 31. EVEN as David Lehre’s “MySpace: The Movie,” ... spawned a high-profile feeding frenzy, some of the Hollywood agents, managers and lawyers who were clamoring to represent him didn’t know much about who he was... “It’s their fear of not being a part of it,” said Scott Vener, Mr. Lehre’s manager... ,,,“Their nightmare is a direct feed from moviemaker to audience,” said Walter Kirn ... Geoffrey Gilmore,...

John, Son of Zebedee "The Origin of our Loftiest Spirituality" VATICAN CITY, JULY 5, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address at today's general audience, which he dedicated to the figure of John, son of Zebedee. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: We dedicate today's meeting to recall another very important member of the apostolic college: John, son of Zebedee, and brother of James. His name, typically Hebrew, means "the Lord has given his grace." He was mending the nets on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, when Jesus called him together with his brother...

Rome, Feb. 09, 2006 (CNA) - First Lady Laura Bush had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI this morning, during her stop in the Italian capital on her way to the opening of the Olympic Winter Games in Turin tomorrow, reported ANSA.Pope Benedict XVI met with     Laura Bush in his private library on Thursday and wished the first lady "a peaceful time" at the upcoming Olympics in Turin, where she is heading the U.S. delegation.During the 20-minute meeting, Mrs. Bush gave Benedict a small silver bowl; the pope in turn gave the first lady and Barbara rosaries and Rooney a ...

PASADENA – In the land of perennial youth and movie star beauty, most centenarians just can't compete. That's why the Rose Parade is getting a major makeover – for the first time in 117 years. With CBS having quietly decided after 45 years to drop its coverage, parade organizers, hoping to keep TV viewers and the remaining broadcasting outlets happy, have ratcheted up the rolling flowerfest's entertainment quotient. So, the annual Tournament of Roses on Monday – a day later than usual because of a "never on Sunday" policy – will kick off with a splashy performance by Grammy-winning singer...

Pre-Christmas Reflection May Our Spirits Open to the True Spiritual Light VATICAN CITY, DEC. 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience. The Pope dedicated the address to the mystery of Christmas. * * * Today's audience takes place in an atmosphere of joy and longing expectation of the now imminent Christmas festivity. The Lord Jesus is coming! We repeat these days in prayer, preparing our hearts to experience the joy of the Redeemer's birth. In particular, in this last week of Advent, the liturgy accompanies and supports our interior journey...

IS THERE an audience for classical music? How many times we have asked that question, and never really come up with a compelling answer. As we approach the end of 2005 - a year of typical mixed fortunes for the music scene - I find myself revisiting this old chestnut of a question. On the one hand, there are ominous signs out there. The Usher Hall struggled yet again this year to fill its 2,000-plus seats in either the Edinburgh Festival or even with the allure a few weeks ago of American superstar soprano Barbara Bonney, as part of the...

Commentary on Psalm 136(137) "A National Hymn of Sorrow" VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience, which he dedicated to a reflection on Psalm 136(137). * * * 1. On this first Wednesday of Advent, a liturgical time of silence, watching and prayer in preparation for Christmas, we meditate on Psalm 136(137), which has become famous in the Latin version of its beginning, "Super flumina Babylonis." The text evokes the tragedy that the Jewish people lived through during the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place in the...

Comment on Ephesians 1:3-10 "Main Verbs of This Canticle Lead Us Always to the Son" VATICAN CITY, NOV. 23, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience. He dedicated the address to comment on the canticle of the first chapter of the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, verses 3-10. * * * 1. Every week the Liturgy of Vespers presents to the prayer of the Church the solemn opening hymn of the Letter to the Ephesians, the text just proclaimed. It belongs to the genre of the "berakot," that is,...

Comments on Psalm 135(136):10-26 at Audience VATICAN CITY, NOV. 16, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI invited his listeners at the general audience to discover the love of God revealed in his works throughout history. Addressing 22,000 people gathered today in St. Peter's Square, the Pope developed the commentary he began last week on Psalm 135(136), a "Paschal hymn" of the Jewish people, which reviews God's action through the history of salvation. It is one of the biblical works that comprise the Liturgy of Vespers, the Church's evening prayer. "We run the danger that the memory of evil, of the evils suffered,...

Comment on Philippians 2:6-11"Plan of Salvation Is First Fulfilled in the Son"VATICAN CITY, OCT. 26, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today at the general audience, which he used to comment on a canticle in Chapter 2 of the Letter to the Philippians. * * * 1. Once again, following the course proposed by the Liturgy of Vespers with various psalms and canticles, we heard resound the amazing and essential hymn inserted by St. Paul in the Letter to the Philippians (2:6-11). In the past we already underlined that the text comprises a double...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday took his special election campaign before a hand-picked Hispanic audience that was more interested in asking him about amnesty and driver's licenses for illegal immigrants than his "year of reform" ballot measures. Schwarzenegger's appearance in the capital studio of Spanish-language television network Univision was another step in his attempt to connect with voters two weeks before they decide his proposals to change state government. He answered questions during a voter forum Monday night in Walnut Creek and has additional forums scheduled in Fresno and Los Angeles. Critics immediately assailed the Univision session...

Commentary on Psalm 129(130) "A Canticle to Divine Mercy" VATICAN CITY, OCT. 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience, which he dedicated to comment on Psalm 129(130). * * * 1. Just proclaimed was one of the best-known and loved psalms of the Christian tradition: the "De Profundis," so called by the way it begins in the Latin version. Together with the "Miserere," it has become one of the favorite penitential psalms of popular devotion. Beyond its funeral application, the text is above all a canticle to divine mercy and...

Commentary on Psalm 121(122) "The Biblical Religion Is the Leaven of Justice and Solidarity" VATICAN CITY, OCT. 12, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today at the general audience, which he dedicated to comment on Psalm 121(122). * * * 1. The canticle we just heard and enjoyed as a prayer is one of the most beautiful and moving of the "songs of ascent." It is Psalm 121(122), a lively and participatory celebration in Jerusalem, the Holy City toward which the pilgrims ascend. In fact, immediately in the opening, two moments come together lived...