Ian Fisher, The Times’s Rome bureau chief from 2004 to 2008, covered Pope Benedict XVI and remembers him as a brilliant theologian who led the Catholic Church through rough times.
Tag: Popes
Former Pope Benedict XVI Is ‘Very Ill,’ Francis Says
Francis called on the faithful to offer up support for his 95-year-old predecessor as the Vatican said that the retired pope’s health had deteriorated in recent hours.
Pope Francis’ Christmas Address Bemoans ‘Grave Famine of Peace’
Pope Francis urged the tens of thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square to pray for Ukraine and for others suffering in conflicts around the world.
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Power Broker Linked With Sex Abuse Cover-Ups, Dies at 94
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.
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.