#The Pope
# the-pope - Sunday 22 June, 2014
The Pope has excommunicated the mafia from the Catholic Church
Pope Francis called the mafia “is the adoration of evil and contempt for common good.”
# the-pope - Wednesday 25 December, 2013
Francis prays for child soldiers “robbed of their childhood”
The new Pope has delivered his first Christmas ‘urbi et orbi’ message.
# the-pope - Friday 15 March, 2013
The Ordinary Pontiff: Pope Francis pays hotel bill, carries his own luggage
Francis brushed off years of tradition and formality with a remarkable break in style, sending a message that he will reject many of the trappings enjoyed by the now-retired Benedict XVI.
# the-pope - Monday 4 March, 2013
The next Pope: Cardinals gather for pre-conclave talks
Cardinals gather for the general congregations today ahead of the start of the conclave to elect the next head of the Catholic Church.
# the-pope - Friday 1 March, 2013
Cardinals begin process of arranging conclave to elect new pope
The tweets from the @pontifex Twitter account have been removed, with the account dormant awaiting a new pontiff.
# the-pope - Thursday 28 February, 2013
Benedict XVI formally steps down as leader of Catholic Church
Cardinals will now meet to elect a successor, while the 85-year-old former Joseph Ratzinger will be known as ‘Pope Emeritus’.
Last day: Benedict XVI's papal powers expire at 7pm tonight
The pontiff will depart the Vatican later today to spend the next few months at the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo before he returns to the Vatican permanently to live a life of prayer and academic research.
# the-pope - Wednesday 27 February, 2013
Benedict XVI holds final address before stepping down as pope
The 85-year-old enjoys an emotional sendoff, explaining his reasons for retiring and taking a final tour of St Peter’s Square.
Pope to hold his final Vatican audience ahead of departure
Details of Pope Benedict’s life after his reign ends have emerged and include him swapping his trademark red shoes for a brown pair. His Fisherman’s Ring will also be destroyed.
# the-pope - Wednesday 13 February, 2013
9 reasons why Pope John Paul II was the best pope
The Pope and Packie Bonner, the Pope with some birds, the Pope with a watch-stealing baby…
'I resigned for the good of the church' - Pope Benedict
In his Ash Wednesday address, the pontiff asked for Catholics to “keep praying” for him.
# the-pope - Monday 11 February, 2013
Taoiseach extends 'best wishes' to Pope, President writes Pontiff a letter
Enda Kenny clashed with the Catholic Church in the last two years, slamming the “the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism that dominates the Vatican today” after the Cloyne report in 2011.
In pictures: From Cardinal Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XVI
The life and times of the 265th Pope.
# the-pope - Monday 10 December, 2012
Column: So the Pope has joined Twitter. What will he learn there?
Social media is all about debate and dissent, writes Fr Tony Flannery – so perhaps it can teach the Vatican a lesson.
# the-pope - Monday 24 September, 2012
Video: Enda Kenny checks his phone during Pope Benedict speech
Checking the Mayo team news? Updating his Facebook? Or taking a sneaky snap? Just what was Enda doing as he checked his phone a number of times during the audience with the Pope on Saturday?