VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI has tapped a fellow German to lead the Vatican doctrinal office he headed for 24 years before being elected to the papacy. By Alessandro Speciale.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Catholic traditionalist group SSPX said the Vatican's latest reconciliation offer is "clearly unacceptable,'' a move that comes as Pope Benedict XVI appointed a high-profile American prelate to oversee relations with traditionalists. By Alessandro Speciale.

(RNS) American nuns who are under investigation by the Vatican say last week's discussions with Rome were "difficult" and indicate that public comments by a number of U.S. bishops have not made negotiations easier. By David Gibson.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican offered a breakaway traditionalist group a solution to re-enter the Catholic Church, as the final word on negotiations that lasted almost three years seems to be imminent. By Alessandro Speciale.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The leader of the traditionalist Catholic movement that's been at odds with the Vatican for decades received the final draft of Pope Benedict XVI's reconciliation offer on Wednesday. By Alessandro Speciale.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Leaders of an umbrella group that represents the majority of U.S. nuns met with top Vatican doctrinal officials on Tuesday (June 12) in an atmosphere of “openness and cordiality,” according to a Vatican statement. By Alessandro Speciale.

(RNS) Franciscan friars are throwing their support behind a group of American nuns, saying Vatican criticism of the women was "excessive" and is "polarizing" the Catholic Church. By Daniel Burke.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican has published the rules used to judge alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary as more and more sightings gather widespread publicity before the church has been able to judge them. By Alessandro Speciale.

(RNS) Now it turns out that conservative U.S. churchmen living in Rome, including disgraced former Boston Cardinal Bernard Law, were key players in pushing the Vatican crackdown on U.S. nuns. By David Gibson.

WASHINGTON (RNS) The Vatican on Wednesday announced a crackdown on the organization representing most nuns and sisters in the U.S. following an investigation that said religious sisters weren't toeing the line on women's ordination, same-sex marriage and other issues. By David Gibson.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) An American cardinal who has jurisdiction over all abuse cases in the Roman Catholic Church said bishops have an obligation to "cooperate" with local law enforcement, but stopped short of mandating that bishops report abuse cases to police. By Alessandro Speciale.