Free Republic

Folks, my colleague Oswald Sobrino of Catholic Analysis has a very interesting post on the new papal coat-of-arms (pictured right). I'm a fan of heraldry--meaning that I have a fascination for it and its symbology, not that I spend untold amount of hours researching them or drawing my own--because they tell me so much about the person bearing them. I'll now reproduce the description found at the ETWN site: The coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI incorporates both papal elements, as well as the elements of the coat of arms he bore as Archbishop of München (Munich) and Freising,...

In this photo made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano,Pope Benedict XVI stands infront of the tomb of St. Peter's inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 24, 2005 prior to his installment Mass in St. Peter's Square. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano) German Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to lead his first public mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 24, 2005. To the sound of choirs chanting in Latin and the applause of the crowd, Pope Benedict emerged into a sunlit St. Peter's Square on Sunday for the inaugural Mass that marks the...

Today, at 10 AM local time, the College of Cardinals celebrated the Holy Mass for the Election of the Pope, prior to starting the Conclave, the process of papal election later on today. "Conclave" is a word of Latin origin, "con clave," which means "under key," in the sense of "under lock and key." It refers to the fact that Cardinals lock themselves in the Sistine Chapel in order to protect their independence as papal electors. The College of Cardinals, as you may know, is the modern incarnation of Rome's ancient Presbytery or Council of Priests, who in the past...

Why was the 3rd secret of Fatima kept secret for so long?

College of Cardinals Among the College of Bishops, it has been a longstanding tradition of the Church, to raise certain bishops and archbishops to the College of Cardinals. The Cardinals have traditionally been seen as the "Princes of the Church". Because of their special devotion and holiness, they are called to assist the Holy Father in the governance of the Church. Most Cardinals are either Archbishops of the largest dioceses in their countries or regions, or the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia (the Pope's Ministers of State, if you like). Of course, the singular role that the...

Swiss watchers The papal guard may dress colourfully but you would be unwise to call them dandies, writes W Thomas Smith Jr W Thomas Smith Jr Tuesday April 5, 2005 Guardian Unlimited Are the Pope's colourfully uniformed guards just for show? The question has frequently been asked in the wake of John Paul II's death. The answer is that these soldiers are indeed not only "stood up" for ceremonial purposes. They are members of the Swiss Guard - often referred to as the papal guards or Swiss mercenaries - an elite, company-sized military force that has defended a succession of...

On Fox and Friends this morning, early in the 5 am EDT hour, they reported, via Italian news sources, that there are concerns, citing intelligence sources (in Italy/Europe apparently), that there may be demonstrations during the mourning period for Pope John Paul II.

Posted: November 6, 2003 Interview with Cardinal José Saraiva MartinsNovember 5, 2003By John L. Allen, Jr.RomePortuguese Cardinal José Saraiva Martins is prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Last year he turned 70, and the Urbaniana University Press recently honored him with a book of essays.In an exclusive interview with NCR Rome Correspondent John L. Allen, Jr., Saraiva Martins spoke on a wide range of topics looking back over his career as a Claretian priest, theologian, rector of the Urbaniana University, then secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education from 1988 to 1998 and prefect of the Congregation...

WHEN SAD DAY COMES, EYES OF WORLD WILL BE ON PAPAL SELECTION AS NEVER BEFOREWhen, God forbid, the Pope leaves this earth, it will kick into play a process of selection that promises to be the most important crossroads for the Church since Vatican II.Fortunately, John Paul II again has defied morbid expectations, and with God's grace, will spiritually lead the Church for a good while yet; his mere presence is the important thing; he doesn't need to talk or administer. And when he does leave this planet, he will be a yet greater intercessor.But as with anyone who is...

Given the sudden deterioration of the Pope's Condition, I thought a thread of this nature might be appropriate.  I read in one of the articles that the POPE HIMSELF is disappointed at his slow recovery, not because of desires relating to self-preservation but because of his scheduled duties and tasks.  I find that truly aspiring.  Here's to you Karol Jozef Wojtyla ! At a United Nations Function.           Kissing the Ground in a Foreign Land Unmarred compassion with his would-be assassin Weekly Address in St. Peter's Square With Princess Diana In Prayer (Very powerful I think) Brief Respit From Cover...