ROME As expected Pope Benedict today announced a consistory to create more cardinals on 20 November reading out the list of the new porporati or red hats at the end of his Wednesday audience Twenty of the 24 are elettori that is eligible to elect the next pope in a future conclave if it w

Suicide--much has been written about this subject and mental health experts study it unceasingly Yet despite the data amassed and the theories and speculations drawn ultimate answers particularly regarding the motives of a particular person elude even the best professionals Outside pressures

ROME There s been some debate in the Vatican press office about whether Pope Benedict will make the announcement of a 20 November consistory to create more cardinals tomorrow or after the end of the Synod Sunday In his blog tonight the vaticanista Andrea Tornielli seems certain it ll be tomorrow

The Washington Post s Michael Gerson picks up on a remark made by President Obama at a rally in Boston last week claiming that it further demonstrates the president is out of touch with average Americans Campaigning for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick Obama said that Part of the reason tha

The dramatic rescue effort to save the lives of 33 miners in Chile has riveted the world rsquo s attention in recent weeks It shows respect for life mdash that each life matters But what would you think of one of the world rsquo s wealthiest societies that let not just 51 but 51 million of its pe

Powerful stuff and required reading from Peter Steinfels over at Commonweal on the leave-taking of Catholics from their church nbsp Why have I spent so much time on those of Catholic upbringing who have left the church First because the numbers are not trivial to put it mildly ldquo Catholi