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Retired Pope Benedict XVI smiles at Germany's Munich Airport before his departure to Rome June 22, 2020. Pope Benedict, who is 93, traveled to Germany to see his ailing older brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, who is 96.

Benedict XVI 'extremely frail', says author

VATICAN CITY -- An author with a long and close relationship to retired Pope Benedict XVI told a German newspaper that the 93-year-old retired pope is "extremely frail."

Jesus walks on the water, by Ivan Aivazovsky (1888).

God's Word on Sunday: True silence is filled with possibilities

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 9 (Year A) 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Psalm 85; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-23

God is certainly capable of great deeds of power. This is most evident in the Exodus account of the Old Testament. But there is another side of God — God’s preferred side — that is quiet, gentle and often disguised to the point of invisibility.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is pictured at the Vatican. China has been accused of hacking Vatican computers as well as those in the Diocese of Hong Kong and other Catholic organizations in May.

China hacked computers of Vatican, other church entities

China has been accused of hacking Vatican computers as well as those in the Diocese of Hong Kong and other Catholic organizations in May.

The beatification ceremony for Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be celebrated Oct. 31, 2020, in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn. Father McGivney is pictured in an undated portrait. On May 27 the Vatican announced Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to the priest's intercession, clearing the way for his beatification.

Beatification of Father McGivney to take place Oct. 31

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be beatified during a special Mass Oct. 31 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

A group including students from Sacred Heart Academy and Presentation Academy in Louisville, Ky., listen to a speaker during the seventh annual prayer service for the victims of human trafficking in 2019 at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville. A Vatican representative said the protection of rights and human dignity is not exclusive to the wealthy but also to the most vulnerable, especially victims of human trafficking.

Justice, dignity not just 'privilege of the rich,' Vatican official says

VATICAN CITY -- Addressing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a Vatican representative said the protection of rights and human dignity is not exclusive to the wealthy but also to the most vulnerable, especially victims of human trafficking.

Bishop David P. Talley of Memphis, Tenn., puts his hands on newly ordained priest Father Joseph Hastings at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church June 13, 2020.

New priest says deep prayer helped him sort out life, led to his vocation

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -When Father Joseph Hastings, 33, was growing up, he had dreams like most young boys. He wanted to be a basketball player. He thought about being an actor.
He came from a devout Catholic family that spent family time together in adoration and distributing food at the Missionaries of Charity shelter in North Memphis.
God's Word on Sunday: We do not earn what God gives us

God's Word on Sunday: We do not earn what God gives us

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 2, Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21

What is the catch? Whenever we hear that something is “free,” our suspicions kick in. There must be some hidden angle — nothing is free, we will have to pay in some way.

Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister, is pictured in this 2018 photo on Capitol Hill in Washington. Archbishop Gallagher recently said the Catholic Church has grown complacent to the persecution of Christians.

Vatican foreign minister: Religious freedom must be protected

MANCHESTER, England -- The Catholic Church has failed to defend Christians effectively, partly because it historically accepted persecution as part of its "community story," a Vatican official said.

Souvenirs are displayed at a 2019 demonstration in Madrid against the exhumation of Spain's former dictator, Gen. Francisco Franco. The Vatican released a statement July 21, 2020, distancing itself from any involvement in the Spanish government's decision to exhume Franco's remains, a divisive issue in that country.

Vatican denies involvement in decision to exhume former Spanish dictator

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican distanced itself again from any involvement in the Spanish government's decision to exhume the remains of the country's late dictator, Gen. Francisco Franco.

The Chinese national flag flies in front of a Catholic church in Huangtugang, China, in this 2018 photo. As the Vatican-China agreement on the naming of bishops approaches two years, Beijing is still lagging behind in giving concessions compared with those made ahead of the deal by the Vatican.

As Vatican-China agreement approaches two years, opinion still divided

VALLA BEACH, Australia -- China has announced that Bishop Paul Ma Cunguo of Shuozhou, a Vatican-recognized bishop, has joined the official state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.

Children perform for Pope Francis, who made a surprise visit to their summer program in the Vatican's Paul VI audience hall July 20, 2020. About 100 children of Vatican employees are attending the program for the month of July.

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to summer camp

VATICAN CITY -- When Zoe, 10, showed up late for summer camp at the Vatican, she did not expect to see Pope Francis there.

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