Many thousands expected for funeral of former Pope Benedict

Vatican City Reuters Former Pope Benedict, a hero to Roman Catholic conservatives who shocked the world by resigning nearly a decade ago, will be given a final farewell on Thursday at a funeral presided over by his successor. Chairs are laid outside St Peter’s Basilica in preperation for former Pope Benedict’s funeral, while the formerPope’s body lies in state […]
Essay: Roman Catholic priests have been celibate for a 1,000 years – but that could change

In an article first published on The Conversation, HELEN PARISH, a professor in history at the University of Reading in the UK, looks at the debate over priestly celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church…