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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

On March 1, Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr celebrated mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains in downtown Cincinnati. The video above is his homily from that mass. Included below is the complete text of Archbishop Schnurr’s homily. Mass for Pope Benedict XVI Homily of Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The world’s cardinals were to begin meetings at the Vatican March 4, and while onlookers are focused on who may be the next pope, the cardinals have business to deal with. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa said the …

By Dan Andriacco For The Catholic Telegraph  Sister of Mercy Victoria Vondenberger, director of the archdiocesan Tribunal, grew up as the oldest child in her family, with four brothers and no sisters. “When I entered the community my brother Dan was in the first grade and told his friends that …