He rose to the second-highest-ranking position in the Roman Catholic Church, but his reputation was stained by his handling of sex-abuse cases.
Tag: Popes
John Paul I, Pope for 33 Days in 1978, Will Be Beatified
Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to the last Italian pope, bringing him a step closer to becoming a saint.
Pope Francis Undergoes Colon Surgery and Is Said to Be Doing Well
It is the first time that Francis has been admitted to a hospital since becoming pope in 2013.
Hans Küng, Catholic Theologian Critical of the Church, Dies at 93
A prolific writer and a prominent speaker, he promoted dialogue among religions and challenged Vatican doctrine on many fronts, provoking its censure.
Vatican Report Cast Pope John Paul II in Harsh New Light
The former pope was fast-tracked for canonization immediately after his death. But a tarnished legacy in dealing with the church’s sex abuse scandals has left critics to wonder whether it was too fast.
Two Popes, and One Big Furor After Benedict Weighs in on Priestly Celibacy
In a new book, the former pope makes a firm defense of celibacy for priests as Pope Francis is expected to decide whether to allow married priests in remote regions. Let the intrigue begin.
Catholic Bishops Back Ordination of Married Men as Priests in Amazon Region, a Milestone
It was the first time a summit of bishops convened by a pope has endorsed such a historic change to the tradition of a celibate priesthood. The final decision will be up to the pope.
Dueling Popes? Maybe. Dueling Views in a Divided Church? Definitely.
Since Benedict, who resigned in 2013, published a letter on the church’s sex abuse crisis, the Vatican has been rife with talk of a rival power center to Francis.
The Saturday Profile: 5 Popes, 150 Papal Trips and One Stern Lecture for Bishops
The Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki made news herself recently when she warned Roman Catholic leaders to address clerical sexual abuse — or suffer the consequences.