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The best in Catholic news from across the Archdiocese of Perth
Age matters: Popes elected as young as 24, as old as 81
Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice prefect of the Vatican Library and author of a book on the history of papal elections, distributed a sheet of “some curiosities” about elections to reporters Feb. 21, the day after briefing journalists at the Vatican.
Cardinal Pell says age, nationality will count in conclave
Sydney Cardinal George Pell, 71, said age, nationality and pastoral experience will be among the factors the cardinals consider when voting for a new pope.
Pope delivers personal, emotional farewell address at audience
On his last full day as pope, Pope Benedict XVI delivered an unusually personal and emotional farewell address, thanking the faithful around the world for their support and assuring them that he would remain in their service even in retirement.
Flurry of personnel appointments mark last days of pontificate
In the 18 days between announcing his resignation and leaving office, Pope Benedict XVI named 19 new bishops and accepted the resignations of seven others.
Faithful throw big farewell at pope’s last general audience
The last general audience in St. Peter’s Square turned into a farewell party with balloons, flowers, flags, posters, cheers, standing ovations and a touching thank-you speech from Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict to be ‘pope emeritus’ or ‘Roman pontiff emeritus’
Pope Benedict XVI will continue to be known as Pope Benedict and addressed as “His Holiness,” but after his resignation, he will add the title “emeritus” in one of two acceptable forms, either “pope emeritus” or “Roman pontiff emeritus.”
Conclave start date might not be known until after March 4
It is possible the world’s cardinals will not begin meeting at the Vatican until March 4, and they cannot set a start date for the conclave until they have met, the Vatican spokesman said.
Cardinal Wuerl: Confronting secularism a priority for next pope
The man cardinals choose as the next pope must be someone with the requisite energy and mastery of modern communications media to promote a revival of the faith in increasingly secular societies around the world, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington.
EWTN coverage of the papal transition
For those who have EWTN, here is the schedule the US-based Catholic satellite TV station has been circulating this week for coverage of the papal transition.
Preliminary pope talk focuses on teaching, preaching, holiness
French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, 69, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, is the “proto-deacon” of the College of Cardinals and will be the one, at the end of the conclave, who will announce to the world, “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”).
