To be holy is to love God, others, Pope says at audience       By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY - Everyone is called to holiness, which is simply striving to imitate Christ, particularly in loving God and loving others, Pope Benedict XVI said. Ending a long series of general audience talks about saints and Doctors of the Church, the pope s...

Scholars see benefits for all faiths in Pope’s second ‘Jesus’ book Brenda Chicas, 17, holds a Bible study guide while attending a New Testament class at St Luke Church in Brentwood, New York in 2008. The class was part of a free two-week summer Bible course for teenagers sponsored by the Office of Faith Formation of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. Photo: CNS...

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican released a three-day schedule of events for the beatification of Pope John Paul II, and warned against people selling counterfeit tickets to the beatification liturgy, which is free and open to all. Pope Benedict XVI will preside over the beatification Mass at 10 am on 1 May in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican said. Immediately after Mas...

ROME, Italy (CNA/EWTN News) - Seventy years ago this week, Karol Wojtyla was “pushed” forward in his vocation by the death of the last member of his close family. Gian Franco Svidercoschi and Pope John Paul II The anniversary was recalled on Italy’s national television channel RaiUno on 13 February by Italian journalist and writer Gian Franco Svidercoschi, who w...

By Alan Holdren Catholic News Agency VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has great expectations for the Youcat, a text designed to teach young people the ABCs of Catholicism using a language tailored to their generation. The 300-page volume is the new and official Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. A team has produced the volume and enlisted its translations under the guidance of Cardina...

By Anthony Barich PERTH’S Polish Catholic community contributed over $5,000 to build what may well be the world’s first church named after Pope John Paul II. Franciscan missionary Fr Piotre Rzucidlo, with blue hat, with Aitape locals in ceremonial dress, when the John Paul II church was opened, with Franciscan Krakow Provincial Fr Nikodem Gdyk, with brown hat. Photo: Courte...

By Anthony Barich OVER 200 Perth Polish Catholic youth are continuing Pope John Paul II’s ‘philosophy of drama’ with a large-scale production that teaches them the deeper things of life. A scene from a production performed by Polish Catholic youth - the Oolish play Balladyna by Juliusz Slowacki inspired by Shakespeare’s Midsummer night’s dream and Lady Macb...

By John Thavis Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI approved a miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II’s intercession, clearing the way for the late Pope’s beatification on 1 May, Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope Benedict’s action on 14 January followed more than five years of investigation into the life and writings of the Polish Pontiff, who died in April 200...

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON - The news of Pope John Paul II’s upcoming beatification was welcomed by many as a confirmation of something they already felt from the moment the shouts of “Santo subito!” (“Sainthood now!”) reverberated through St Peter’s Square at the Pontiff’s funeral. Mourners hold banners that read &quo...

By Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY - Same-sex unions “penalise” traditional couples and distort the true nature of the family, Pope Benedict XVI said. The many crises that families face are “caused by the rapid social and cultural changes” in society, the Pope said on 14 January in a speech to officials from the city and province of Rome and the Lazio region of ...