Popes

VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II was a true believer, a courageous voice of truth and a man whose witness to the faith grew more eloquent as his ability to speak declined, Pope Benedict XVI and others who worked closely with the late pope said at events for his beatification.

"John Paul II is blessed because of his faith — a strong, generous and apostolic faith," Pope Benedict said May 1 just minutes after formally beatifying his predecessor.

VATICAN CITY — Blessed Pope John Paul II worked a number of miracles at his beatification, some pilgrims said.

Weather forecasts of a weekend of heavy rains turned into innocuous grey clouds April 30 and then sunny skies May 1.

"We prayed to John Paul that it wouldn't rain," said Josephine Faehrmann from Sydney, Australia, who was planning to sleep outside with her friends.

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican official downplayed a 1997 Vatican letter to Irish bishops about handling cases of clerical sex abuse, saying the letter did not tell bishops to keep the cases secret from the police.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the letter aimed at ensuring the bishops fully followed Church law for dealing with accusations in order to avoid a situation in which an abusive priest could return to ministry on the technicality of his bishop mishandling the process.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI approved a miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II’s intercession, clearing the way for the late pope’s beatification on May 1, Divine Mercy Sunday.

Pope Benedict’s action Jan. 14 followed more than five years of investigation into the life and writings of the Polish pontiff, who died in April 2005 after more than 26 years as pope.

Question:

What exactly does ‘papal infallibility’ mean? How often have popes spoken infallibly?

Msgr. Mitas' answer:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of a special charism of infallibility that is given to the Roman Pontiff. A charism is a special gift of the Holy Spirit, and this one enables the pope to teach and define the authentic doctrine of Jesus free from all error.

VATICAN CITY — In the hectic days before Christmas as people get ready for the holidays, may no one forget to prepare internally for the coming of Christ, Pope Benedict XVI said.

He asked that people dedicate the same kind of energy and care they pour into making their homes and neighborhoods more beautiful for Christmas into preparing their hearts for meeting Christ and making their lives pure and holy.

With just a few days left before Christmas, the pope dedicated his weekly general audience to the importance of the mystery of Christ's birth and the tradition of the Nativity scene.