Much speculation circulates about the reasons behind the resignation of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on February 28. Benedict released this statement that says it was due to health and age, and reveals that the former Pope was simply too weak to properly bear the burdens of leading a global religious following.

“…in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me,” the statement reads.

Seems rational. Considering the usual age of those given the Papal title, around 62. With Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI elected at the age of 78, it’s surprising that it has been so long since a Pope has thrown up his wrinkled hands in exhaustion. Around 600 years, in fact.

All that rationality has not stemmed the tide of conspiracy theories, which are in rare form. The beliefs range from the old sex-scandal, to the classic Illuminati pulling strings behind the scenes, to Benedict being ousted as a Nazi.

The sex scandal comes from the fact that the then-Pope was said to have received two red leather-bound texts full of the findings of the internal investigation into the sex-crime accusations. It is claimed that the same day the books hit his desk, the Pope gave his two-week notice.

While Pope Emeritus, born Joseph Ratzinger, was forced into the Hitler Youth to survive in Bavaria during WWII, there is no evidence that he has any ties to the Nazi party, nor has he supported them politically. Benedict’s father was, in fact, known to be an opponent of the Nazi regime.

Another theory floating around is that a man known as “The Black Priest” is really behind all the Vatican’s decisions, as he controls both the Church and the Illuminati. This “priest” is said to be Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, who also leads the Society of Jesus. Busy guy! It is apparently Kolvenbach who chose to step down, which meant that his counterpart, or possibly underling, Pope Benedict, must do so as well.

There is little to no evidence of any of these conspiracy theories bring true, and the Vatican routinely asserts the facts at every meeting and conference. Their representatives are well practiced at this, since there have accusations of secret dealings, secret societies, and general misconduct throughout the history of the Church. Until the day where no more secrets are kept and the inner world of all organizations is open to the public, there will be mutterings of scandal and the ways shadow rulers are bringing about the New World Order.

Image Courtesy : Catholic Church (England and Wales)

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Pope Benedict XVI is not the only pope to hand over the Keys of St. Peter to someone else But there seems to be some confusion in the media as to who, exactly, was the last pope to resign. Some say Gregory XII, while others say Celestine V. The truth is that both men gave up the papal tiara, though under radically different circumstances. Here is a look at two of the remarkable figures that made the same dramatic choice as Benedict.

Gregory XII (1406-1415)

Born Angelo Correr around 1326 to a noble family in Venice, Gregory had a reputation as a particularly pious and honest churchman. The Roman Catholic Church was currently mired in the Western Schism, a complex ecclesiastical conflict that had produced the spectacle of multiple ‘popes’ reigning at the same time and hurling excommunications at one another. When the Roman pope Innocent VII died in 1406, the cardinals unanimously elected Correr as pope. Each member of the conclave had sworn an oath that, if elected, he would renounce the papacy if the rival in Avignon, Benedict XIII (who is often referred to as an ‘antipope’) would do the same, thereby bringing the Western Schism to an end.

At first, Gregory seemed willing to adhere to his promise. He entered into negotiations with Benedict, and the two pontiffs agreed to meet in the neutral city of Savona in Liguria. But Gregory’s determination started to waver in the face of opposition from his relatives and King Ladislaus of Naples. He eventually backed out of the meeting, claiming that he was afraid of being captured by Benedict’s supporters.

Gregory’s cardinals were none too pleased at his change of heart, and although he ordered them to remain in the city of Lucca, several of them slipped away and entered into secret negotiations with their counterparts in Benedict’s camp. The two groups of cardinals decided to convene a general council to depose both popes and elect a single successor. The council eventually met in Pisa, but neither Gregory nor Benedict attended. In June 1409, the Council of Pisa duly deposed Gregory and Benedict and elected a successor, who took the title of Alexander V. But Gregory created several new cardinals and convened them in a rival council that condemned both Benedict and Alexander.

Western Christendom was now split between three popes, and although Alexander V died after a very brief reign, he was succeeded by another antipope, John XXIII. Under pressure from secular rulers, John convened another council in the city of Constance. Although convened by an antipope, the council was legitimized when Gregory sent representatives with a bull that retroactively summoned the council and approved its succeeding acts. He also empowered one of his representatives to resign the papacy on his behalf, and he duly fulfilled his commission. In gratitude, the Council made Gregory Cardinal Bishop of Porto and legate to Ancona, where he died shortly thereafter.

Celestine V (1294)

The man who would become Celestine V was born with the name Pietro to humble parents in the Kingdom of Sicily in 1215. He entered the Benedictine Order at the age of seventeen and soon developed a reputation for asceticism. He eventually decided to take up residence in a cavern, first at Mt. Morrone (which is why he eventually became known as ‘Pietro di Morrone’) and then Mt. Maiella. Emulating the example of St. John the Baptist, he tortured his flesh relentlessly, wearing a hair shirt roughened with knots, fasting every day except Sunday, and keeping four Lents throughout the year (during three of which, he only consumed bread and water).

Morrone’s brand of piety proved quite popular, and he founded a religious order that would eventually be named after him. Although it was eventually made part of the Benedictine Order, the Celestines had to endure a much severer way of life. But they became so popular that the order soon boasted 36 monasteries and 600 monks. Morrone ended up handing control of the order to someone else so that he could escape into the solitude of the wilderness.

When Pope Nicholas IV died in 1292, the cardinals gathered at Perugia to elect his successor. Their deliberations dragged on for two years, and Morrone sent them a letter filled with righteous indigation, warning them that God would surely punish them for their dilatory behavior. Desperate for a candidate, the Dean of the College of Cardinals nominated Morrone himself, and the rest of the cardinals readily assented to his election. When Morrone was informed of his election, he at first refused to take up the papacy and contemplated fleeing, but pressure from crowds of believers and the Kings of Naples and Hungary persuaded him to take office.

Morrone took the regnal name Celestine V, his papacy soon got off to a rocky start. He alienated his cardinals by reviving a decree of Gregory X that required cardinals to be isolated from the outside world when electing a pope and imposed strict living conditions on them for the duration of the election. He also proved to be a better ascetic than an administrator, and he resented the fact that the temporal business of the papacy often got in the way of his prayers.

Ultimately, the burden of his office proved to be too much, and Celestine began to contemplate resignation. But a papal resignation was an extremely rare event, and there was considerable uncertainty among church lawyers as to whether or not it was even possible. Celestine used his power as pope to declare that it was in fact possible for a pontiff to resign, and he took advantage of that pronouncement just a short while later. All told, he had reigned for five months.

Unfortunately, Celestine’s successor, Boniface VIII, had him arrested and thrown into a tiny cell in the castle of Fumone. He endured terrible conditions and rude treatment by his guards for nine months before finally dying at the age of 81.

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Pope Benedict XVI has shocked the world by announcing that he will relinquish the papacy at the end of the month.

Benedict made his historic announcement at a consistory that was held to approve the canonization of three new saints. In a faltering voice, he read a statement in Latin to the assembled cardinals.

“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” he said.

Benedict stated that governing the church required one had to be strong in both mind and body. But since he had come to feel increasingly infirm, it was important that he step down and let someone with a stronger constitution take over.

As required by canon law, Benedict announced that he made his resignation with “full freedom.” And in display of German meticulousness, he also declared that he would “renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.”

Benedict concluded his statement by announcing that he planned to continue serving the church through a life dedicated to prayer.

Although Roman Catholic bishops and archbishops are expected to retire at 75, the pope traditionally holds office for life. Benedict’s predecessor, John Paul II, remained in office despite suffering from a variety of debilitating ailments. But over the centuries, a handful of popes have chosen to step down. Gregory XII resigned in 1415 in order to end the Great Schism, a decades-long ecclesiastical civil war that saw multiple popes in office at the same time. Over a century earlier, Celestine V stepped down after a reign of only five months when he became disillusioned with the nature of the papacy. Hopefully, Benedict’s post-papal life will be more congenial than that of Celestine, who was imprisoned in the castle of Fumone by his successor.

The full text of Benedict’s announcement can be found here.

Image Courtesy : Catholic Church (England and Wales)

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Grand Rapids, U.S.A — ‘Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light’, a powerful and captivating new DVD release that explores the life of one of history’s most intriguing saints, makes its international debut. Produced by acclaimed mezzo soprano and impassioned Hildegard champion Linn Maxwell, the landmark production coincides with one of the most notable Vatican announcements of our lifetime.

The new release, whose centerpiece is a tour-de-force film adaptation of Ms. Maxwell’s acclaimed one-woman stage play, transports audiences back to the 12th century to meet Benedictine nun, writer, composer, healer and prophet Hildegard of Bingen. Beginning in earliest childhood, Hildegard experienced powerful, recurring visions from God that called her to express herself through her many talents and assume a role of unique leadership in the medieval church – one that challenged the establishment head-on and moved some to silence her.

Hildegard has been an admired and controversial figure both inside and outside the Catholic Church for centuries. International interest in Hildegard spiked recently following her long-awaited canonization in May 2012 and has continued to intensify in the build-up to her October 7 naming by Pope Benedict XVI as a “Doctor of the Church.” This rare title, bestowed on individuals of extraordinary importance in the life of the Church, now places Hildegard in highly select company.  In the past 800 years, only 35 Doctors – including Saints Ambrose, Augustine and Jerome – have been named.  Of these, only four have been women

Written and performed by Linn Maxwell, the film adaptation of the play ‘Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light’ is based on an original production directed by Erv Raible that has won widespread critical acclaim in both North America and Europe. Writing in the New York Theater Review, John Hoglund has said, “Hildegard returns…through the artistry of Linn Maxwell in a commanding performance that is as scholarly as it is relevant today;” according to The Times of London, “Hildegard is reborn as mezzo Linn Maxwell,” with her “hypnotically beautiful song.”

The new DVD features Ms. Maxwell as Hildegard, performing the mystic’s compositions on authentic medieval instruments and, through Hildegard’s actual writings, reveals the life and passion of an extraordinary woman who lived centuries ahead of her time.

“Hildegard tapped me on the shoulder one day, and has never really let go,” said Ms. Maxwell. ”The privilege of creating and launching ‘Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light’ is the culmination of a long journey that has drawn me deep into the life of this remarkable and fiercely prolific German abbess.

“For those who know and love Hildegard, there is the very real sense that now, as saint and Doctor, she has finally come into her own. That even at a distance of nine centuries, through her faith and struggles as a woman, rich artistry, profound concern about reform and combating evil, natural remedies and unique ‘green’ message, she has something powerful and very relevant to say to us today. I’m confident that as audiences experience ‘Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light,’ they will meet her and be blessed in exciting and unexpected ways.”

‘Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light’ arrives on DVD loaded with more than three hours of content, including an annotated script and supplemental notes, a two-part seminar for church or academic group discussion, and a variety of recent topical interviews with many of the world’s leading Hildegard scholars, authors and experts, including:

• Prof. Beverly Kienzle, Harvard Divinity School:  “Hildegard and the Bible”
• Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University:  “Feminine Motifs in Hildegard’s Writing”
• Prof. Carmen Butcher, Shorter University:  ”Hildegard’s Authentic Word for Today”
• Prof. Bruce Hozeski (ret.), Ball State University:  “Hildegard’s Visions
• Msgr. Michael Hull, Archdiocese of New York:  ” Hildegard’s Canonization”
• Susan Hellauer, Founding member, Anonymous 4:  “Hildegard and Her Music”
• Linn Maxwell and Erv Raible:  “The Hildegard Project”

To watch the official movie trailer and purchase ‘Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light’ visit http://www.HildegardTheMovie.com.

Image Courtesy of   Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Shutterstock.com

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Miami, U.S.A. — By rethinking the conventional wisdom about core voting issues, Hispanic Catholics can transform American politics.

That is the message that Supreme Knight Carl Anderson of the Knights of Columbus will deliver to more than 100 Hispanic business and civic leaders meeting in Miami for the annual conference of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL).

The speech is scheduled Friday, August 24, at 7:00 PM at the Family Center of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church 7377 SW 64th Street, Miami.

Anderson will make the case that voters must consider a candidates position on issues that affect core values if we want to build a country where the Catholic values of Hispanic immigrants are respected. Anderson will note that voting for those who say they support immigration reform is not enough, if those same politicians also advocate policies at odds with the core Catholic beliefs shared by the vast majority of Hispanic immigrants.

His speech notes that “we should work to ensure that future generations of immigrants find a country that supports their values and not one that asks them to surrender their religious values at the border as the price of their admission.”

It adds that “being forced to surrender values at the border is not multiculturalism, it is the opposite of multiculturalism.”

Anderson will also point out that “we all want and deserve a real solution” on immigration. However, despite many promises from individuals on both sides of the political aisle, no comprehensive immigration solution has been forthcoming and conditions in the United States are now such that as many or more Mexican immigrants are returning to Mexico as are coming in the United States according to the Pew Foundation.

The speech comes on the heels of the enormous Guadalupe Celebration in Los Angeles earlier this month sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles – the largest Catholic event in that city since the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1987.

A strong advocate for Catholics voting in a way consistent with their conscience, Anderson will tell the assembled Latino Leaders that Hispanic voters should consider many issues in voting, and ought to draw a line they will not cross in voting if a politician supports policies at odds with core Catholic beliefs.

Such policies include support for abortion or the limitation of First Amendment freedom of religion – which have come under increasing assault from federal policies including the unpopular HHS Mandate that forces religious employers to pay for abortion inducing drugs, sterilization and contraception. The mandate and other federal actions have also sought to redefine the very nature of religion, something that has drawn condemnation from many religious leaders of many faiths.

Earlier this month, Pope Benedict XVI conveyed his support for the Knights of Columbus work in support of religious liberty. The letter addressed to Carl Anderson from the Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, stated “His Holiness is confident that the (Knights of Columbus) Supreme Convention will carry on this distinguished legacy by providing sound inspiration, guidance and direction to a new generation of faithful and dedicated Catholic laymen.As he stated to the Bishops of the United States earlier this year, the demands of the new evangelization and the defense of the Church’s freedom in our day call for ‘an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture and with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would delegitimize the Church’s participation in public debate about issues which are determining the future of American society’ (Ad LiminaAddress, 19 January 2012).”

Anderson leads an organization of 1.8 million members founded by immigrants and the sons of immigrants in 1882 and dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. The Knights of Columbus has long been a “pan-American” organization, having established councils in Mexico in 1905 and in Cuba in 1909 and in Canada in 1897.

Anderson is coauthor of the New York Times bestselling book Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love, and serves as CEO of the Knights of Columbus.

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The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington has launched a nationwide online petition drive to garner thousands of signatures for the goal of securing the release of Alan Gross from Cuban prison on humanitarian grounds. The petition humbly appeals to Pope Benedict XVI to take the necessary efforts to obtain Alan Gross’ release during his upcoming visit to Cuba on March 26-28, 2012. The petition is located at: freealangrossnow.com.

Alan Gross, a resident of the DC Metropolitan Area, was arrested in Cuba in December 2009, while working with Cuba’s Jewish community to improve Internet access and to create an intranet.  He has been incarcerated ever since. He languished in prison for over a year before he was finally charged by the Cuban government.

A Cuban court convicted him of “actions against the integrity of the State,” and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. Alan subsequently appealed his sentence to the Cuban Supreme Court, and the court reaffirmed the sentence, exhausting all of Alan’s legal remedies. His only avenue left is commutation of his sentence by Raul Castro, President of Cuba.

Alan and his supporters have fervently rejected all accusations that he did, or intended to, do anything to harm the Cuban government.  Contrarily, his work in Cuba was intended to help the Cuban Jewish community improve its access to information through the Internet and intranet. The President of the United States, senior Administration officials, several high-ranking members of the United States Department of State, Members of Congress, international leaders, and newspaper editorials have all called for his immediate release.

The petition urges Alan’s immediate release on humanitarian grounds.  Alan has lost approximately 100 pounds and is suffering from several ailments. Since his incarceration, his wife Judy has undergone surgery for an undisclosed medical issue and one of his two daughters was recently diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Alan’s 89-year-old mother is fighting inoperable lung cancer.  His entire family fears they will never see him again.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) is the public affairs and community relations arms of the Jewish community representing over 100 Jewish organizations and synagogues throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Image Courtesy of   Gasper Furman / Shutterstock.com

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The dedication of a new Catholic cathedral in the city of Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea, on December 7, served as a symbol of the nation’s economic development and the vigorous religious life of a country where the church was once violently suppressed.

President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo dedicated the new Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Equatorial Guinea’s easternmost city.  In his remarks, he reminded his countrymen of his government’s efforts to restore religious freedom as one of its first acts upon assuming power.

The previous regime had forced the “closure of churches and persecution of Christians, many of whom were forced into exile,” President Obiang said. “With our arrival, we proceeded to reopen all the churches closed by the former regime. We proceeded to release [political] prisoners, and ecclesiastical activity regained its vigor and normality.”

The event was held on the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception in the capital of Wele Nsas province, President Obiang’s birthplace. More than 1,000 guests attended the religious ceremony, including President Francois Bozize of the Central African Republic, papal envoy Francis Cardinal Arinze, and Antoinette Nguesso, wife of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The attractive new basilica, done in a variation of neoclassical style, is named for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Equatorial Guinea. It can hold up to 8,000 people and took nearly six years to construct. President Obiang presented the plan for the basilica to Pope Benedict XVI during a state visit to the Holy See in 2005 and laid the cornerstone on December 9, 2006.

President Obiang expressed the hope that Pope Benedict would visit the country and recalled the critical role Pope John Paul II played in promoting national healing and renewal during his eight-hour visit to Equatorial Guinea in 1982.

“The Pope arrived at the airport in Malabo, kissed the earth, and blessed our country with his hands raised,” President Obiang said. “The people turned out in such a way that he left with the idea that our country was where he was received with the greatest fervor.” The population of Equatorial Guinea is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic.

After the inaugural Mass, which was attended by five cardinals, 45 bishops, and some 300 priests from the central African sub-region, President Obiang and the Cardinal Arinze cut the ribbon, signifying the official opening of the basilica.

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Pope Benedict XVI continued with his papal mass in Germany despite an earlier incident that day when a man fired an air gun at a security guard. The mass took place on Saturday, September 24, and the shooting occurred on the edge of the security zone in Erfurt, roughly two hours before the mass began.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said there was “no worry” for the papal entourage. The suspect was later identified by police as a 30-year-old Erfurt man from Berlin. German police said an air rifle and air pistol were found in his apartment, and that he was being held on suspicion of attempting to cause serious bodily harm.

At the mass, the pope defended traditional values saying religion must not be banished from public life, and that Christian churches are walking side by side in the battle. The pope also said, “Knowing, too, the value of family and marriage, we as Christians attach great importance to defending the integrity and the uniqueness of marriage between one man and one woman from any kind of misinterpretation.”

“Here the common engagement of Christians, including many Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians, makes a valuable contribution to building up a society equipped for the future,” he continued. After the Mass, the pope flew to the largely Catholic populated city of Freiburg in southern Germany, where roughly 25,000 people lined the streets, waving and cheering as he drove to the downtown cathedral.

At an evening prayer vigil in the outskirts of the city, he urged more than 20,000 youths to overcome “a tendency toward evil,” encompassing envy, aggression and selfishness. Speaking in Erfurt on Friday, the Pope spoke to other faiths, meeting Muslims in Berlin and, later, the leadership of the Protestant Church in Erfurt.

Later that day, in an unannounced meeting, the pope met for half an hour with victims who endured sexual abuse by priests. He met with the five victims for half an hour and expressed “deep compassion and regret.” The victims were two women and three men from across Germany and were said to have remained very calm during the meeting.

Victims’ groups have accused the pope of refusing to address the issue openly. Last year, hundreds of Germans revealed their stories of having been physically or sexually abused by members of the Catholic clergy.

The Vatican released a statement regarding the meeting with the victims stating in a that the pope was “moved and deeply shaken.” They said he expressed the hope that God “may heal the wounds of the victims and grant them inner peace.”

 
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The Pope, during his weekly blessing to pilgrims, claimed from his summer residence in Castel Gondolfo, south of Rome, the only way for all of the victims to escape from the tragedy in the Horn of Africa is with “compassion” and “fraternal solidarity.”

The catastrophic drought has affected more than 11.8 million people and cover so large an area where both the populations of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are suffering from hunger.

Relief organizations still don’t know how they can deal with the worst drought in the last 60 years. United Nations’ humanitarian affairs coordination says: “The crisis in southern Somalia is expected to continue to worsen through 2011, with all areas of the south slipping into famine.”

It is estimated that half of Somalia’s people are in need of relief assistance after large periods of civil conflict and drought.

“The drought is the reason I left Somalia, I had a deaf husband and between us we had cows and goats,” said Halima Korone Une, a Somalia’s refugee in Dabaab, Kenya. “Because of the drought we had to eat all our goats and my husband went to look for pasture for the cows but never came back so I decided to leave my home with our five children.”

That is the reality. Korone lost one of her children on their way and now she has only four children with her.

Meanwhile, the Pope is giving blessings far from the devastating situation, in his summer residence in Rome.  While The United Nations has declared a famine in two regions of southern Somalia and stated that the effects of the drought have been felt more widely across the war-torn country, as well as in parts of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, Pope Benedict XVI says: “It is an immense task. In this time of holiday, let us not forget to open our hands and our hearts to come to the aid of those who need it,” and he added: “Let us give food and share our bread with the needy.”

The Vatican’s official daily keeps saying that it is difficult to save the people of Somalia. Furthermore, their official daily will refer to the international community for the hard job. Sources in the Vatican also believe the international community should take a more active mediation role between rival and Somali clans:

“If international players do not manage to do this, then even a massive humanitarian effort by UN agencies, including the WFP’s airlift, and by non-governmental organisations will at best slow the emergency,” the Vatican’s official daily said.

Last week, the UN World Food Programme has started an airlift of food into the capital Mogadishu. Even though they are taking any possible action, WFP said: “our feeding centers continue to operate in spite of the difficult security situation.”

Despite the Vatican’s official daily opinion, charities have already said that more international donations are needed and relief efforts have been hampered by the combat, and also a ban on some humanitarian agencies by the Islamist group “Al Shabab” which controls much of southern Somalia.

The African Union is scheduling a further donor conference in Addis Adaba, Ethiopia’s capital during this month. The Pope claims a lack of “solid institutions” on the country, but the world is interested in knowing when a solid institution as the Vatican is going to start helping the people in Somalia.

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Madrid is absolutely ready for the beginning of  “Jornadas Mundial de la Juventud” (World Youth Day). Streets are clean and shut down and pilgrims are waiting for Benedict XVI to arrive to the city.

Even before his arrival, the polemic is already there. Is it worth it to spend 50 million euros for an event that will generate only 100 million, especially in a worldwide crisis context?

In a non-denominational state like Spain, all Madrid’s citizens will be faced to an enormous traffic diversion and a virtual collapse in the city.

Half a million people are expected to be a part of this 7 day event, but is it really profitable?
Pilgrims who checked in the JMJ, will get special discounts for public transportation, food tickets and housing for only 210 euros. A really good offer for those who are coming to see Benedict XVI.

Considering this, and also knowing that the average age is 22, how much money will the pilgrims spend in Madrid?
Other events, like annual Gay Pride counts with an austere budget, only 500.000 euros, and generated, this year, more than 110 million euros. A considerable difference if we compare it with World Youth Day.

Demonstrations, appart.

A secular demonstration is also organized for this Wednesday. Madrid’s mayor, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, believes that this is unacceptable, considering the possible conflict with other religious events.

After several discussions, the demonstration was finally accepted and will coincide with the pilgrims in Puerta del Sol, an strategic hotspot for World Youth Day.

As usual, Spain is divided.

From bullfighting to gay marriage, Spain has two strong views: left and right-wing. We are not talking about politics, but rather people.

Strong points of view are exposed with this international event: from college students to nuns, in favor and again arguments come up easily in Madrid’s streets… and also on the Internet.

Twitter has an enormous roll these days. Hashtags like #MadridSinPapa (Madrid with no Pope), #Madrid11 or #JMJ are used to express from one side and the other, all thoughts related with Benedict XVI and World Youth Day.

Humor aside (people can be really original with their comments), taking a look into these hashtags we can see phrases like “We are totally ready for this incredible experience” and “We are strong and the world will see it”.

But a huge current of comments like “Not with my taxes” and “Spend that money in Somalia” is also coming up with the same force as the others.One thing is for sure, the respect, first of all and from all sides, religious and secular, in this kind of massive event, is the most important matter to emphasize.

In a particular coexistence of each view lies what really turns a society into a tolerant and democratic region.

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Pope Benedict XVI has closed down a historic monastery in Rome after a Vatican investigation revealed “liturgical and financial irregularities.”

The monastery was attached to the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which was built in 320 AD to house sacred relics brought back from the Holy Land by the mother of Emperor Constantine I.  Its former abbot, Father Simone Fioraso, is credited with raising its profile through a number of outreach initiatives.  Fioraso had been a fashion designer prior to taking his vows and he quickly gained a reputation for flamboyance.  In addition to renovating Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Fioraso and the monks also opened a hotel and began a regular concert series.  The monastery quickly became popular with celebrities, including Madonna and Gloria Estefan.

In 2009, the monastery invited Sister Anna Nobili, a former nightclub dancer who had become a nun, to perform her “holy dance” at once of their concerts.  Nobili’s dance routine involved lying spread-eagled in front of the altar while clutching a crucifix and gyrating in a manner reminiscent of a pole dancing routine.  Nobili said that her unorthodox behavior was a form of prayer, telling La Repubblica at the time that “I dance for God and I’m happy. All my choreography is dedicated to Him. My aim is to pray using my body.”

That same year it was alleged that organic food sold in the monastery gift shop was actually taken from the shelves of local supermarkets.

Abbot Fioraso was removed from his post in 2009, but the monastery’s woes have continued.  Recently, the Pope ordered an ‘apostolic visitation’ of the monastery in his capacity as Bishop of Rome.  The results of the investigation were transmitted to the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Pope ultimately decided to dissolve the monastery.  The reasoning behind the unusual decision has not been released, though Vatican spokesman Father Ciro Benedettini said that “their lifestyles were not in keeping with what one would expect of monks.”

The twenty Cistercian monks who live in the monastery will be transferred to other monasteries around Italy.

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