Pope John Paul II
The Audacity of Pope: The ‘Francis Doctrine’ puts the Vatican back on the world stage
By David Gibson — June 3, 2014
(RNS) In a world of heart-wrenching suffering, leaders from President Obama to Russia's Vladimir Putin often seem like helpless actors controlled by events rather than directing them. Pope Francis also risks that fate.
Popes John XXIII, John Paul II elevated to sainthood
By Josephine McKenna — April 27, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints, and we enrole them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church,” Francis declared to the crowd in Latin during the two-hour ceremony.
Report: Pope Paul VI to be beatified after California ‘miracle’
By Josephine McKenna — April 25, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) According to the weekly magazine of the Pauline Fathers, a miracle involving the birth of a baby in California in the 1990s has been attributed to the late Italian pope; the identity of the family and its location has not been revealed.
Meet the women behind the miracles credited to John Paul II and John XXIII
By Josephine McKenna — April 24, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Costa Rican mother of four says she was healed of an inoperable brain aneurysm after praying to Pope John Paul II and receiving a message of "don't be afraid."
FACT BOX: Everything you need to know about popes and saints
By David Gibson — April 23, 2014
(RNS) How many popes have been made saints? What's the "devil's advocate"? Find out in this drive-by tour of the process of making saints.
ANALYSIS: Does being pope give you an inside track to sainthood?
By David Gibson — April 23, 2014
(RNS) The shift to make popes into saints could backfire if the public assumes that every pontificate comes with an automatic -- or at least expected -- halo.
The legacies of John Paul II and John XXIII
By Amanda Murphy — April 22, 2014
(RNS) Religion News Service asked experts, biographers and theologians to assess the two popes who will be canonized on Sunday.
John Paul II and John XXIII: A rush to sainthood?
By Josephine McKenna — April 22, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The fast-track canonization for Pope John Paul II, and the bend-the-rules process for Pope John XXIII, have raised questions about a rush to sainthood for the two most influential popes of the 20th century.
Sainthood rites for John Paul II, John XXIII to be beamed around the world
By Josephine McKenna — April 1, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) For the first time, viewers will be able to watch the historic canonizations of Pope John Paul II and John XXIII live in 3-D movie theaters in 20 countries across North and South America and Europe.
Benedict XVI on John Paul II: I always knew he was a saint
By Eric J. Lyman — March 7, 2014
ROME (RNS) "The reality that John Paul II was a saint became increasingly apparent to me in the years I worked together with him," Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said.
Vial of Pope John Paul II’s blood stolen from Italian church
By Eric J. Lyman — January 27, 2014
ROME (RNS) The thief or thieves made off with a large crucifix and a gold reliquary containing the vial of the blood of John Paul, who will be proclaimed a saint in April.
Thomas Melady, former U.S. envoy to the Vatican, dies at 86
By Eric J. Lyman — January 8, 2014
(ROME) As U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Thomas Melady he was instrumental in influencing Pope John Paul II's Vatican to recognize Israel as a sovereign state.
Alleged miracle puts Pope Paul VI one step closer to sainthood
By Eric J. Lyman — December 13, 2013
ROME (RNS) Paul VI was a pivotal pope for the Roman Catholic Church, even as he is sometimes overshadowed by the more charismatic papacies of John XXIII and John Paul II.
Pope Francis sneaks out of the Vatican? Maybe not, but he wouldn’t be the first
By David Gibson — December 3, 2013
(RNS) Escaping the “gilded cage” of the papal apartments has been a dream of many popes who fear losing touch with ordinary life. Here are five examples, mostly true, of other Catholic churchmen who have gone off the grid.
Pope Francis meets with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu
By Eric J. Lyman — December 2, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis is starting to raise the political profile of the Vatican to levels not seen since the height of John Paul II's papacy.