Benedict XVI and Israeli President Shimon Peres met for 40 minutes this morning at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence. Peres gave the Pope a silver Menorah. In the Vatican’s press release, the two leaders reiterated their condemnation of all forms of violence in the Middle East. They also expressed hope that the resumption of direct contacts between Israelis and Palestinians will help re…

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During his Sunday Angelus Address, Pope Benedict said he was thinking with particular affection of the trapped miners in San Jose, Chile. He assured them and their families of his constant prayer in the hope of a happy conclusion to the work that’s being done to rescue them. The 33 Chilean miners have been trapped for more than 20 days 700 meters below ground. The Holy Father also recalled that on…

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Jesus of Nazareth: The Illustrated EditionThis illustrated edition of the bold, momentous book written by Pope Benedict XVI is beautifully adorned with reproductions of classic works by a veri... Read More >

“Every one of us should have a saint that is familiar, close with prayer and intercession, but also to imitate him.” With reassuring words, Benedict XVI has again indicated the example saints, in order to discover the joy that never disappoints — the love that speaks in silence. “Sometimes you have a sort of fear of recollection – said the Pope during the general catechesis dell”udienza – often…

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The Major Works (Oxford World's Classics)Alexander Pope has often been termed the first true professional poet in English, whose dealings with the book trade helped to produce the literary ma... Read More >

“My thoughts go out to Mogadishu from where we continue to get news of violent atrocities and that yesterday was the scene of another massacre, I am close to the families of the victims and all those in Somalia who are suffering from the hatred and instability. I hope with the help of the international community, no effort will be spared to re-establish respect for life and human rights.”…

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Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us: Those were Pope Benedict XVI’s words to the faithful, on Sunday, before reciting the Angelus prayer. The Pope noted that Sunday’s liturgy, eight days after the feast of the Assumption, makes us venerate the Virgin under the title of Queen, because – he explained – Mary is the first that passed through the “Road” opened by Christ leading to the Kingdom of God, a wa…

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Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVICardinal Joseph Ratzinger's election as Pope Benedict XVI brought a world-class biblical theologian to the papacy. There is an intensely biblical qual... Read More >

My thoughts at this time to the dear people of Pakistan, recently hit by severe flooding, which caused many casulties and left many families homeless. As I entrust to the merciful goodness of God all those who are tragically gone, I express my spiritual closeness to their families and all who suffer because of this disaster. Our solidarity and the concrete support of the international community mu…

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Pope Benedict XVI recalled Pope Pius X during his weekly general audience on Wednesday. He said St. Pius X taught us all that the basis of our apostolic activity in the various fields in which we operate, must always be an intimate personal union with Christ, which grows and increases day by day. The Pope mentioned the motto of the saint’s pontificate, “To Renew All Things in Christ”, and pointed…

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The Major Works (Oxford World's Classics)Alexander Pope has often been termed the first true professional poet in English, whose dealings with the book trade helped to produce the literary ma... Read More >

Pope Benedict XVI, quoting Pope Paul VI, called on believers to entrust themselves to Mary, who “assumed into heaven, has not abandoned her mission of intercession and salvation.” He was speaking to more than 4000 faithful gathered in the courtyard of the Papal Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo during the Angelus on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Father reca…

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Jesus of Nazareth: The Illustrated EditionThis illustrated edition of the bold, momentous book written by Pope Benedict XVI is beautifully adorned with reproductions of classic works by a veri... Read More >

Pope Benedict XVI prayed the Angelus at Castel Gandolfo this Sunday. In his remarks ahead of the traditional prayer of Marian devotion, Pope Benedict reflected on the Gospel reading for this Sunday, saying Jesus continues his discourse to the disciples about the worth of the person and about how useless earthly concerns really are, and illustrates how the expectation of the fulfilment of the “bles…

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In an atmosphere of great joy and high spirits, Benedict XVI met a group of young people at Sulmona cathedral on Sunday. The Pope – showing the affection of a father with his children – said that the heart of man does not find peace if not in God, “the pearl of great price” that gives value to life. But he observed the clouds gathering on the horizons of young people today aren’t few in number: “C…

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“Freedom grows and comes to perfection when man opens himself to God, when he listens to divine Revelation.” The words of the Pope this morning during his weekly general audience attended by 9000 people in the Paul VI hall. The Holy Father presented the figure of Blessed John Duns Scotus, the great 13th century Franciscan theologian. He recalled that Scotus espoused the doctrine of Mary’s “prevent…

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This morning, before his weekly general audience, Benedict XVI inaugurated a large statue of Saint Annibale Maria di Francia, founder of the Congregation of the Rogationist Fathers of the Heart of Jesus and of the Daughters of Divine Generosity. The statue is located in an external niche outside St. Peter’s Basilica, near the Arch of the Bells. Before blessing the 5 feet high statue, carved out of…

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Pope Benedict XVI today celebrated his namesake, St Benedict of Nursia, as the “great patron” of his pontificate, saying the founder of Western monasticism and renewer of Western civilization was in his person the very image of incarnate teaching, who in no way could every teach differently from how he lived. July 11th is the day on which the Church marks the great saint’s liturgical memory. The H…

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During his current summer holiday at Castel Gandolfo this month, the Holy Father started preparing the third volume of his great work on Jesus. Last month, he handed over the manuscript of the second volume, dedicated to the Passion and Resurrection. Translators are currently translating it into various languages and it’s expected to hit bookstores next spring. The third volume will be dedicated t…

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The Our Father is the prayer that expresses confidence in God, able to meet the spiritual and material needs of humanity. Those were the words of Benedict XVI, speaking to the faithful and expressing his deep sorrow over the deaths of young People in his native Germany who were attending an annual music festival. The Holy Father said in Italian and German he was praying for all those who lost thei…

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“Serve Jesus generously in the Eucharist. It ‘s an important task, which allows you to be particularly close to the Lord and to grow as his true friends.” This was Pope Benedict’s message this morning to 55 thousand altar servers from across Europe, who are in Rome for their international pilgrimage, and were protagonists of the general audience in St. Peter’s Square. Beside the large bronze statu…

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