He’ll have a little spending money, it seems. Details: Pope Benedict XVI does not, officially, have an income. The head of the Catholic Church doesn’t really get paid, the Vatican has said repeatedly in response to inquiries from the press over the years; he has his every need provided for by the Holy see. But we know what Benedict will make once he relinquishes the papacy on February 28. He will be paid a pension of 2,500 euros a month, or about $3,340. That’s according... Read more
A comprehensive and interesting roundup of reaction to Benedict’s resignation, from the terrific Ann Rogers in Pittsburgh: Pope Benedict XVI, the German pope who some feared would spend his pontificate scourging liberal Roman Catholics, focused on preaching about God’s love. “His greatest legacy is his spiritual hunger and thirst to bring people closer to God,” said Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh. But it’s how he ended his papacy, as the first pope in 600 years to resign, that is guaranteed... Read more
From the Columbus Dispatch: When planners asked St. Paul the Apostle parishioners what they wanted in a new church, their preference was clear: a return to the traditional. The Romanesque-style Catholic church in Westerville, with its arches and columns, cross-shaped floor plan and Jerusalem stone throughout, filled the bill. The church received some help achieving the centuries-old look with stained-glass windows, statues and other items harvested from parishes closed by the Cleveland diocese starting in 2009. The Rev. Charles Klinger,... Read more
From the Los Angeles Times, more details are emerging about Pope Benedict’s health: Peter Seewald, a German journalist who has interviewed Benedict on numerous occasions, said that when he last saw the pope 10 weeks ago, his hearing had deteriorated and he appeared to have gone blind in his left eye. “His body had become so thin that the tailors had difficulty in keeping up with newly fitted clothes. … I’d never seen him so exhausted-looking, so worn down,” he... Read more
A deacon in the City of Brotherly Love sent me an e-mail about a little brotherly love from the archbishop. Below is the text of a letter sent to the priests and deacons of Philadelphia: February 13, 2013  Dear Brother Priests and Deacons, An important part of the life and work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the service of our permanent deacons. Since becoming your Archbishop, I have discussed several topics I consider important for... Read more
Periodically, I’ve posted images here by the great French water color artist, James Tissot. His epic undertaking on the life of Christ is collected in the Brooklyn Museum, which periodically hosts special showings of his work. One striking image has bearing on today’s gospel: it’s called “Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.” Along with Tissot’s keen eye and vivid detail, it includes something especially provocative: the devil is depicted as a poor old man, starving in the desert, offering two stones to... Read more
The Washington Post gives another perspective on the papal resignation—and lifts the curtain on the mess that is the Curia: Guests at the going-away party for Carlo Maria Viganò couldn’t understand why the archbishop looked so forlorn. Pope Benedict XVI had appointed Viganò ambassador to the United States, a plum post where he would settle into a stately mansion on Massachusetts Avenue, across the street from the vice president’s residence. “He went through the ordeal making it very clear he... Read more
Some more great context and insight on the upcoming conclave from NCR’s John Allen: People typically ask two kinds of questions about conclaves: those that deal with the event in general and those that pertain to this one specifically — who the leading candidates are, what the issues seem to be, and so on. We’ll deal with the latter soon enough, but first, it’s important to grasp how the behind-the-scenes politics work. Ideally, this exercise in “Conclave 101″will help make... Read more
Details from AP: Journalist Peter Seewald recalled in an article for German weekly Focus published Saturday asking Benedict during a meeting last August at the pontiff’s summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, what more could be expected of him and his papacy. Seewald said Benedict replied: “From me? From me, not much more. I am an old man and my strength is running out. And I think what I have done is enough.” Asked whether he was considering resignation, Seewald said that... Read more
A deacon in the City of Brotherly Love sent me an e-mail about a little brotherly love from the archbishop. Below is the text of a letter sent to the priests and deacons of Philadelphia: February 13, 2013  Dear Brother Priests and Deacons, An important part of the life and work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the service of our permanent deacons. Since becoming your Archbishop, I have discussed several topics I consider important for... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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