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‘Rise, Peter’: Consternation as German bishops endorse blessings of homosexual unions

April 02, 2023

“Rise, Peter, and fulfil this pastoral office divinely entrusted to you,” exclaimed Pope Leo X in 1520 in the face of the errors of Martin Luther. It was, he lamented, particularly saddening that such error should have arisen in Germany, when its people are so naturally “germane to the Catholic faith”. As the present author

Francis isn’t the first Pope to intervene in an Order’s affairs. But papal power can go too far

January 26, 2017

Protestant and Orthodox Christians may well ask what this says about the institution of the papacy

‘It was both a joy and a burden’: extracts from Benedict XVI’s Last Testament

November 11, 2016

In these extracts from his new book-length interview, the Pope Emeritus reflects on his ‘guillotine’ election, his achievements as Pope and his tendency to ‘think too much’

Book review: Was this the hardest time to be pope?

April 09, 2015

A new book captures the dilemmas facing three popes who were confronted by Fascism and Communism in the 20th century

Debate: Does the next Pope need to be a CEO who can reform the Curia?

November 19, 2010

Or should the priority instead be on holiness and authoritative teaching?