ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. – Welcomed by U.S. President George W. Bush and an array of church officials, Pope Benedict XVI began his first pastoral visit to the United States as pope April 15.Read More

NEW YORK – Lidia Matticchio Bastianich has cooked for her fair share of VIPs, including first lady Laura Bush and the presidents of Japan and Chile. Nothing, however, comes close to cooking for Pope Benedict XVI.Read More

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO THE U.S. – Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped to help heal the wounds of priestly sex abuse during his visit to the United States and promised steps to ensure that such acts do not happen again.Read More

WASHINGTON – While presenting Cardinal William H. Keeler with a special honor April 14 in Washington, leaders of the Anti-Defamation League said the retired archbishop of Baltimore recently alleviated tensions between Jews and the Vatican.Read More

SEATTLE – Catholic leaders must move beyond an attitude of simple compliance with safe environment initiatives and instead join in “a ministry of conversion” that will lead to a broader societal effort to end the sexual abuse of children, Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett of Seattle said April 8.Read More

Father Martin S. Nocchi thinks every year the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House remains open is just as important as the 45th anniversary the facility is now celebrating.Read More

When Bishop John Carroll took possession of what was then the Diocese of Baltimore in December 1790, America’s first Catholic bishop faced tremendously daunting challenges. With few resources, he was called to build parishes and schools, raise a native clergy and meet the pastoral needs of a diocese that encompassed the entire country.Read More

The following is Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien’s April 13 homily from the bicentennial Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore.Read More