Holy Father's historic visit to the U.S.
FAITH goes to New York to see the pope
FAITH’s editor in chief, Father Dwight Ezop, is leading a tour of travellers from the Diocese of Lansing to be part of Pope Benedict’s first U.S. visit. The group will be at the papal Mass at Yankee stadium on April 20. Visit www.FAITHmag.com for photos and updates as they happen!
The pope is coming to the U.S.
Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church to the United States this April. The six-day trip will begin in Washington, D.C., and continue to New York City. The trip is historic, especially since the Holy Father will address the United Nations General Assembly, meet with President George Bush and visit Ground Zero.
Happy Birthday,
Pope Benedict!
When Pope Benedict XVI celebrates his first papal Mass in the United States, it will be a “familial” gathering at the apostolic nunciature in Washington, said the Vatican ambassador to the United States, Italian Archbishop Pietro Sambi.
The pontiff also will celebrate his 81st birthday that day, April 16.
Archbishop Sambi said the approximately 30 staff members at the nunciature are “all excited to have this morning” with the pope.
He also said he hopes the message U.S. Catholics get from the papal visit is “one of the things that the pope pronounced the first day after being elected pope: Don’t be afraid. Jesus Christ takes away nothing from you, but he will enrich you.”
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Pope Benedict
visits U.S.
The U.S. bishops created a blog for the pope’s visit in April,
www.usccb.wordpress.com.
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Bishops express
sorrow at death of Iraqi archbishop
Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed “profound shock and sorrow” on behalf of the U.S. bishops following the death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho at the hands of his kidnappers.
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Poor as priority No. 1
The U.S. bishops asked President Bush and Congress to make the needs of the poor their No. 1 priority as they debated an economic stimulus package.
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Euthanasia’s spread
Luxembourg, whose population is 85 percent Catholic, will be the third country of the European Union to legalize euthanasia. Holland was the first and Belgium the second.
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Promoting dignity despite obstacles
The Colombian bishops’ conference wants to promote the dignity of the woman. The obstacles they see are the “feminization of poverty” and the promotion of abortion.
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Qatar gets first Catholic church
After 14 centuries of prohibitions, the nation’s first Catholic church was built in the capital city of Doha. “It is an event of historical importance,” said Vatican Radio.
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Ministry without boundaries
A Catholic priest was sentenced by the tribunal of Oran, a city in Algeria, to a year in prison for directing a religious ceremony in a location not sanctioned by the government.
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Vatican art from past centuries
to be displayed in Rome
The display will feature never before seen Vatican artworks from the 14th to 20th centuries. It will be open until May 25.
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Knights of Columbus founder declared venerable
The founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Michael McGivney, was declared venerable by Benedict XVI, furthering his process toward becoming the first American-born priest to be canonized.
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Many feel they have found a home
Tens of thousands of Americans joined the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
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Chinese priests work around disruptions to assess quake damage 
