Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis announces ecumenical prayer service, reflects on St. John the Baptist’s ‘spirit of service’
Jan 15, 2023 / 06:17 amAn ecumenical prayer vigil will take place in St. Peter’s Square as part of the Church’s ongoing Synod on Synodality.
Pope Francis: God’s justice frees us from the snares of evil
Jan 8, 2023 / 04:55 amOn the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the pope said in his Angelus address that “Jesus reveals God’s justice.”
Pope Francis: Celebrate the date of your baptism like a birthday
Jan 8, 2023 / 03:20 amOn the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 8, the pope baptized 13 babies and presided over Mass beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes.
A look back: Benedict XVI’s life as pope emeritus
Jan 7, 2023 / 08:00 amPope Benedict XVI spent the final years of his life largely out of the public eye, living in retirement as pope emeritus in a monastery in Vatican City.
Pope Francis: the Three Kings found God in poverty
Jan 6, 2023 / 05:20 amThe Solemnity of the Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi who came with gifts to worship the Child Jesus shortly after his birth.
Pope Francis on Epiphany: Get out of your comfort zone to seek God like the Magi
Jan 6, 2023 / 03:00 amIn his homily for the Church’s celebration of the three kings on Jan. 6, the pope warned that today’s world is full of “tranquilizers for the soul.”
People attending Benedict XVI’s funeral recall their personal memories of a ‘humble pope’
Jan 5, 2023 / 08:36 amMore than 50,000 people attended the Jan. 5 funeral for the pope emeritus who died at the age of 95 last Saturday.
Missed Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral? Watch it here
Jan 5, 2023 / 04:50 amWatch EWTN's live coverage of the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Benedict XVI’s funeral: Tens of thousands attend simple, solemn liturgy for beloved pope emeritus
Jan 5, 2023 / 03:21 amRoyalty, cardinals, patriarchs, government officials, and many Catholic families and religious attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on a cold and foggy morning at the Vatican.
Cardinal Zen attends Benedict XVI funeral after Hong Kong authorities release passport
Jan 5, 2023 / 02:25 amThe 90-year-old cardinal from Hong Kong arrived in St. Peter’s Square dressed in red and walking with a cane to concelebrate the funeral Mass on Jan. 5.
President Joe Biden will not attend Benedict XVI’s funeral
Jan 4, 2023 / 06:33 amThe Vatican’s press office has confirmed that only two official state delegations — from Italy and Germany — were invited to the funeral of the late pope emeritus.
Here are the prayers and readings for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass
Jan 3, 2023 / 09:07 amPope Francis will preside over the funeral of Benedict XVI on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 9:30 a.m. (Rome time) in St. Peter’s Square.
Cardinal Zen: Benedict XVI will be a ‘powerful intercessor in heaven’ for China
Jan 3, 2023 / 04:38 amIn a reflection posted on his blog on Jan. 3, Cardinal Joseph Zen remembered Benedict XVI as a “great defender of the truth.”
VIDEO AND PHOTOS: Thousands gather to pay final respects to body of Benedict XVI
Jan 2, 2023 / 04:54 amThe mortal remains of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica through Jan. 4.
Here are the last words spoken by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Jan 1, 2023 / 12:12 pmThe retired pope spoke the words shortly after his longtime personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein briefly stepped out of the room, according to a Vatican News account.
Benedict XVI: A look back at the cat-loving pope’s favorite feline friends
Jan 1, 2023 / 12:10 pmThe late pope emeritus had a great love for cats was known to feed the many cats that lived in the Vatican gardens.
Pope Francis entrusts the late Benedict XVI to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jan 1, 2023 / 03:17 amAt the first papal Mass of 2023, thousands of Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica prayed for the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Benedict’s XVI’s spiritual testament underlines ‘the reasonableness of faith’
Dec 31, 2022 / 13:54 pmIn the final thoughts he wished to share with the Church, Benedict XVI wrote: “Do not let yourselves be confused!”
Pope Francis gives thanks to God for Benedict XVI’s sacrifices for the Church
Dec 31, 2022 / 10:33 amPope Francis gave thanks for the good works and sacrifices of Benedict XVI, hours after the pope emeritus’ death on Saturday at the age of 95.
A timeline of Pope Benedict XVI’s extraordinary life
Dec 31, 2022 / 03:15 amPope Benedict XVI led an extraordinary life that included a wartime childhood in Nazi Germany, a key role at the Second Vatican Council, and his election to the papacy.