VATICAN CITY (EWTN News/CNA) — The new Vatican website News.va is already making a name for itself: After only a few hours of going live, the site already had more than 3,000 “friends” on Facebook and over 36,000 people following it on Twitter.

Pope Benedict issued the first tweet June 28 (see Edward Pentin’s take here, plus video). The site went live officially June 29.

The site brings together all the Vatican’s communication outlets into one online location for the first time. The list of agencies includes Fides News Agency, the newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, the Holy See’s Press Office, the Vatican Information Service, Vatican Radio and the Vatican television service, CTV. Each will...READ MORE

The Primacy of Peter, Established by Christ & Confirmed by the Holy Spirit - Reginaldus, The New Theological Movement

The Solemnity Marks Pope Benedict’s 60th Anniversary as a Priest - Carl Olson, Ignatius Insight Scoop

Saint Peter Always Was Slightly Nuttier - LarryD, Acts of the Apostasy

Is Benedict Pointing Toward His Chosen Successor? - Phil Lawler, CatholicCulture.org

Miracles in Soho - George Weigel, Crisis Magazine

“Gendercide”: 160 Million Baby Girls Killed for Being Girls - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

What’s In a Name? - JoAnna, Catholic Phoenix

A Scholar & Pastor, An Interview with Cardinal Angelo Scola - Gerard O’Connell, La Stampa/Vatican Insider

Today the Pope...READ MORE

In the Gospel according St. Matthew, Jesus explains that in the resurrection of the dead, people will no longer marry nor be given in marriage, “but they are like angels” (22:30).

This is a foundational text for religious life, but it isn’t easy to understand. For, while many Catholics believe men and women in religious life are like angels or plaster of Paris statues with no problems or weaknesses, Jesus means something different. He speaks of a new relationship between the body and the soul in heaven. In fact, the body will come to exist after the manner of the soul. There will be a new spousal relationship of the body, which will be the vehicle of giving the gift of self entirely to...READ MORE

VATICAN CITY (EWTN News/CNA) — “Thanks to the Lord for the friendship that he has bestowed upon me,” Pope Benedict said to a packed St. Peter’s Basilica as he celebrated his 60th anniversary of becoming a priest on June 29, the day that is also the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

“Thanks to the people who have formed and accompanied me. And all this includes the prayer that the Lord will one day welcome us in his goodness and invite us to contemplate his joy,” the Pope said.

Pope Benedict was ordained to the priesthood, along with his brother Georg, in the Bavarian town of Freising on June 29, 1951. Georg was with him in Rome today.

Appropriately, the music throughout the ceremonies seemed...READ MORE

ROME (CNA/EWTN News) — Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Freising, Germany, June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. He has called his ordination “the most important moment of my life.”

The Vatican daily L’Osservatore Romano included in its June 29 edition an excerpt from the book Memoirs: 1927-1977, published in 1997 by then-Cardinal Ratzinger. In the book, he recounts the day of his priestly ordination.

“For at least the past two months,” Ratzinger wrote, “I was able to focus completely on preparing myself for the big step: priestly ordination, which we received at the Cathedral of Freising from the hands of...READ MORE

VATICAN CITY (CNA) — On the eve of receiving his pallium from Pope Benedict, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles said the mission of his archdiocese should be “to bring the mercy of God to the people of our time.”

“We’re called to be messengers of God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s peace. That’s what we have to continue to make the Archdiocese of Los Angeles a place where we can witness God’s love for us and for all his people,” the archbishop told a congregation of Californian pilgrims in St. Peter’s Basilica June 28.

The pallium is a white woolen liturgical vestment emblazoned with six black crosses. It symbolizes an archbishop’s pastoral authority and his unity the Pope.

More than 40...READ MORE

Although Catholics have become accustomed to the current translation of the Roman missal and some may wonder why a new one is being introduced, Msgr.  Andrew Wadsworth, who is executive director of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy — which prepared the   forthcoming translation that debuts in Catholic churches in the U.S. on the First Sunday of Advent — says it was high time for a revision.

“When our current translation of the Roman Missal — the first English version — was implemented in 1973, it was recognized that it would need revision in time. Many people thought it would be only five years before it was revised,” he said. “That was over 40 years ago, so such a...READ MORE

Scripture on Divine Judgment - Speaking of Scripture

Poland: Historic Vote on Bill Banning All Abortions - Patrick B. Craine, LifeSiteNews

New Vatican Website!, My Thoughts - Brandon Vogt, The Thin Veil

News.va is Online - Mundabor’s Blog

Questions Over Canon 915 Are Not Going Away - Doctor Ed Peters, In the Light of the Law

A Biography of the New Archbishop of Milan - La Stampa/Vatican Insider

Why Does God Call David a Man After His Own Heart? - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

What is Inevitable in the Fight Over Marriage? - Catholic Vote

Genetic Testing & Abortion in Catholic Hospitals - Dr. Stacy Trasancos, Accepting Abundance

A Prayer of Surrender - Catholic Spiritual...READ MORE