Papacy Archives - Page 3 of 4

Of all places, a reminder from Duluth that the papacy matters
- May 1, 2016
For enthusiasm, commitment and sheer passion, however, I’ve never met anyone quite so passionate about popes as Fr. Richard Kunst of the Diocese of Duluth in Minnesota.

By John L. Allen Jr.
Of all places, a reminder from Duluth that the papacy matters
- May 1, 2016
Roman Catholicism is a sprawling, wildly diverse community of 1.2 billion people spread over every nook and cranny of the planet, and sometimes, when its fault lines and internal tensions seem especially sharp, it almost defies belief that the Church has held together as long as it has. Theologically, of

By John L. Allen Jr.
On Benedict XVI anniversary, why he'll go down as 'Great Reformer'
- Apr 18, 2016
By consensus, while emeritus Pope Benedict XVI was a great teaching pontiff, ecclesiastical governance on his watch often left something to be desired. Space does not permit a full listing of meltdowns and crises, but here are a few highlights: The appointment in 2007, followed by the swift fall from

By John L. Allen Jr.

Feb 23, 2016

With the recent revelations of St. John Paul II’s close relationship with a married woman, the philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, many commentators are wondering whether we need to revise our understanding of Karol Wojtyła the man. Barbara Latza Nadeau, writing in The Daily Beast, asks the question surely on many people’s

Letters confirm popes are people, too

Feb 16, 2016

Papal watchers have known for years that Pope John Paul II had close friendships with several women, and until now, there’s never been any suggestion of something untoward about it. Nor is there now. In fact, the bond between the Polish pope and a married Polish-American woman, Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, has