Oh my. Just call it WaPo’s Western Schism That Won’t Happen. VATICAN CITY — Two pontiffs, both wearing white, both called “pope” and living a few yards from one another, with the same key aide serving them. The Vatican’s announcement Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI will be known as “emeritus pope” in his retirement, be called “Your Holiness” and continue to wear the whit... More

As I’ve mentioned in this space a number of times, I work at Franciscan University of Steubenville, a hub of Catholic intellectual life and spiritual renewal for so many worldwide. So the reactions to this morning’s announcement have been many and interesting. Starting with the humorous and moving quickly to the serious. In case you hadn’t heard, and purely for context, we announ... More

Pope Benedict is resigning. Not the end of the world, nor the end of the Church. If you find yourself saddened by this news remember: the Church is the bride of Jesus Christ, not the product of human enterprise. The Pope is Christ’s vicar, not successor. The pope is a caretaker and steward, not lord. Continue to love the Church and not any one man. Trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit̵... More