Pope Benedict Our German Shepherd

Henry Farrell recounts getting stuck in pope-security-related traffic, contrasts the differences between this trip and John Paul II's 1979 visit to Ireland, and takes this photo: Henry muses that it "seemed to me to have dark undertones that were presumably not intended by the person who was waving it about." Personally, I find the canine overtones amusing enough.

Is the Pope Catholic?

Steve Bainbridge, both on his blog and in a TCS column, answers the title question in the affirmative.

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Saving endangered species through better pharmaceuticals.

Benedict Keeps John Paul II’s Staff

Benedict Keeps Cardinal As Vatican's No. 2 (AP) Pope Benedict XVI confirmed Cardinal Angelo Sodano in the Vatican's No. 2 post Thursday and kept all other top officials, avoiding any immediate shakeup in the late John Paul II's administration. It was a sign that the new pope, a doctrinal hard-liner, wants to show continuity with the popular John Paul. Sodano, the Vatican's ...

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Becomes Pope Benedict XVI

"God's Rottweiler" arises from the white smoke: Thousands Cheer in St. Peter's Square as New Leader Emerges (NYT | RSS) Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope today, taking the name Benedict XVI, then telling a wildly cheering crowd from a balcony on St. Peter's Basilica, "I entrust myself to your prayers." The 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, smiling broadly, was introduced ...

A New Pope Has Been Chosen

A new pope has been chosen on just the second day of the conclave. His name has not yet been announced. If precedent is any indication, we should know within hours. A New Pope Has Been Chosen (WaPo) White smoke from the Sistine Chapel's chimney and the pealing of bells Tuesday signaled that the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church ...

Papal Candidates: Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, Brazil

In 2002, Frei Betto, a renowned liberation theologian, declared that, if Cardinal Hummes were to reach the papacy, "he would be even more socially engaged than John Paul II.” It was a bold statement, but perhaps not ill-informed. After all, how many church leaders can claim to have opened diocesan facilities for labor and political meetings? How many have provided ...

Vatican Begins Anti-surveillance Operation

The Vatican has deployed countermeasures in an attempt to keep enterprising reporters from spying on the papal selection conclave. Vatican mobilises anti-surveillance op (The Register) If press reports are to be believed, then next Monday's gathering of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel will represent the biggest counter-surveillance operation since the Posh/Becks royal wedding. Indeed, so busy will the Vatican be blocking laser ...

Catholic Church Facing Financial Crisis

Despite its enormous riches, the Roman Catholic church is in financial crisis, according to an AP report. New pope to face enormous financial issues The next pope will not only have to care for the souls of his 1.1 billion-member flock worldwide, but also the church's accounts, hit by the falling dollar, sex abuse settlements and a growing diplomatic mission. Like ...

Cardinals Lobby for Swift Sainthood for John Paul II

The New York Times reports that cardinals are likely to bow to popular pressure to make the late Pope John Paul II a saint and to do so ahead of the standard schedule. Cardinals Lobby for Swift Sainthood for John Paul II The cardinals electing a successor to Pope John Paul II are facing unusual popular pressure to declare him a ...

Betting on a New Pope

John Tierney argues that speculators at Intrade may give us the best insights as to who will be the next Pope. If you listened to journalists during last year's presidential campaign, you heard about a tight race with oscillating polls and shifting momentum. The weekend before the election, we painstakingly analyzed the battleground states and bravely proclaimed them too close to ...

Papal Candidates: Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Belgium

According to a June 2002 Washington Monthly article by John Allen, even though Pope John Paul II appointed a vast majority of the cardinals, it's no guarantee that his successor will be conservative. Cardinal Danneels is perhaps the strongest evidence for this argument. On modern culture, gender roles, church structure, and even papal retirement, he clearly departs from traditionalists. But ...

Scottish Soccer Fans Jeer Pope

Via the Drudge Report comes this Associated Press dispatch: Fans at Soccer Game in Scotland Jeer Pope Fans at a Scottish Cup soccer game jeered during a minute's silence for Pope John Paul II on Sunday, forcing the tribute to be cut short. The booing by Hearts fans came before the semifinal against Celtic, which has mostly Catholic fans. Referee Stuart Dougal ended ...

Pope John Paul II Funeral

Pope John Paul II was buried at 2:20 p.m local time in what was surely the most-watched event in human history. Pope Laid to Rest As World Bids Farewell (AP) Presidents, prime ministers and kings joined pilgrims and prelates in St. Peter's Square on Friday to bid an emotional farewell to Pope John Paul II at a funeral service that drew millions ...

Israel, Mideast Foes in Historic Handshake at Vatican

Moshe Katsav, Israel's ceremonial president, shooks hands with President Bashar Assad of Syria and President Mohammad Khatami of Iran at Pope John Paul II's funeral. Israel, Mideast Foes in Historic Handshake at Vatican (Reuters) Israel's president said he shook hands with the leaders of Syria and Iran at a Vatican funeral Friday when in his death Pope John Paul brought ...