I. Introduction Less than two weeks ago, the College of Cardinals, with the help of the Holy Spirit, elected a new Holy Father to lead the Church, Pope Francis. And since then he’s taken the world by storm. He isn’t doing this by spending millions of dollars on a pubic relations campaign. He isn’t shaping...Read More

I. Introduction Last Wednesday, the eyes of the world were focused on the Vatican awaiting word of whom the College of Cardinals had chosen to be the 266th Successor of St. Peter and Vicar of Christ. Speculation in the media was rampant and even among informed observers had narrowed the likely candidates to a few,...Read More

Msgr. Jarboe, my brother priests [and deacons] and dear friends in Christ, I. Introduction: Laetare Sunday – Reasons for Rejoicing and Prayer I’d like to welcome all of you here to the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, particularly those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in just a few moments. You are...Read More

I. Introduction Msgr. Farmer, dear brother priests [and deacon(s)], all dear friends in Christ: What a joy it is to be here for the first of what I hope will be many visits to St. John’s, one of the truly great parishes of the Archdiocese of Baltimore! II. Laetare Sunday It’s hard to believe we’ve...Read More

You may have seen, as I did, the footage of the departure from the Vatican of Benedict XVI, now Pope Emeritus. There was coverage of his farewell audiences, his farewells to the Cardinals, his helicopter lifting off from the Vatican heliport and then landing at Castel Gandolfo, his brief address on the balcony of the...Read More

The Holy Father’s recent announcement of his resignation from the Papacy due to reasons of advanced age and diminished strength was an act of selfless humility and great humanity. Shortly after his election in 2005, it was speculated that the new pope, Pope Benedict XVI, would be unlike his predecessor, who transformed the image of...Read More

The full import of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI due to the frailty that comes with advancing years will emerge only with the passage of time. Even now, however, two observations might be in order. The first is that Pope Benedict’s decision reveals that he has a pastor’s heart. He put the Church and...Read More

Years ago, I accompanied James Cardinal Hickey, then the Archbishop of Washington, to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was to give a lecture. After his lecture and after fielding questions from his audience, Cardinal Ratzinger boarded a small plane that would take him and five other passengers to Washington where...Read More