The final testament from the slain archbishop of Mosul does not bequeath any material goods to anyone, but it has a spiritual message encouraging ties of brotherhood among all Iraqis.
Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho was kidnapped Feb. 29 outside of a church where he had led the Way of the Cross; it was a Friday of […]

By Carrie Gress
It was a privilege to welcome Benedict XVI to the United States, President George Bush told the crowd at the 5th Annual Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
The president said this today to the sold-out crowd of 2,000. This year’s theme was “A Celebration of Benedict XVI in America,” since the event coincided with the U.S. […]

Here is the address Benedict XVI gave today to the staff of the United Nations.
* * *
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Here, within a small space in the busy city of New York, is housed an Organization with a worldwide mission to promote peace and justice.
I am reminded of the similar contrast in scale between Vatican City State […]

Here is a Vatican translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today to the U.N. General Assembly. The Pope spoke first in French, then in English.
* * *
Mr President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I begin my address to this Assembly, I would like first of all to express to you, Mr President, my sincere gratitude for your […]

Here is the speech given by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon prior to Benedict XVI’s address to the General Assembly.
* * *
Your Holiness,
Excellencies,
I am deeply grateful to His Holiness for accepting my invitation to visit the United Nations — home to all men and women of faith around the world. Your Holiness, welcome to our common […]

Then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s 1988 Erasmus Lecture:
In Wladimir Solowjew’s History of the Antichrist, the eschatological enemy of the Redeemer recommended himself to believers, among other things, by the fact that he had earned his doctorate in theology at Tübingen and had written an exegetical work which was recognized as pioneering in the field. The Antichrist, […]

  This morning, the Pope celebrated a private Mass in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Washington D.C., then bid farewell to the staff there.
  At 8.45 a.m. local time (2.45 p.m. in Rome) he boarded his aircraft and departed for New York, where he is scheduled to land at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy […]

  At 9.30 a.m. local time yesterday, the Pope arrived by car at the Nationals Park Stadium of Washington D.C., which has capacity for 45,000 spectators and is the most modern baseball stadium in the United States. The Holy Father was welcomed by Archbishop Donald William Wuerl of Washington, by Adrian M. Fenty, mayor of […]

Here is the greeting and message Benedict XVI gave today to the Jewish community.
* * *
My dear friends,
I extend special greetings of peace to the Jewish community in the United States and throughout the world as you prepare to celebrate the annual feast of Pesah. My visit to this country has coincided with this feast, […]