ANKARA, Turkey (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI asked for prayers for his pilgrimage to Turkey, as the Turkish government announced unprecedented security measures to protect the pontiff and the Vatican confirmed the pope would visit a mosque during his trip.Read More

WILMINGTON, Del. – Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli, the New Jersey-born priest who guided the people of the Diocese of Wilmington through 12 years of significant growth and unprecedented challenges, died early Oct. 8 in Christiana Hospital, where he had been staying since undergoing colon surgery Sept. 29.Read More

Harold A. “Hal” Smith, the former executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was given the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Award by Catholic Charities USA Sept. 26.Read More

St. Cunegundes, wife of St. Henry, became empress in Rome in 1014. She lived a vow of virginity with her husband’s consent. After she was widowed in 1024, St. Cunegundes became a nun and lived in the convent she had previously built at Kauffungen for the Benedictine nuns. She prayed and worked there until her...Read More

St. Guntramnus was the son of King Clotaire and St. Clothildis. He was king of Orleans and Burgundy in 561. His wife, whom he had divorced, became very ill. When her doctor couldn’t help her, St. Guntramnus had the doctor murdered. However, when he converted to Christianity he felt so wretched over his actions that...Read More

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican’s chief representative to the United Nations said giving foreign development aid only if a country adopts family planning programs that promote artificial birth control is “an abuse of power.”Read More

David Cramer (CR, Sept. 10) took issue with the suggestion that health care Reform might be compromised just because of the abortion issue. He felt it was a “justice” issue. I can’t agree more. Right now there is no justice for pre-born children, and until the Catholic hierarchy, pastors and voters insist on giving this...Read More

Today is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the day that Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth who was with child, despite being advanced in years, as the angel had told her. Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth knew that Mary was the mother of the Lord; the Gospel says that...Read More