His memories of Helen Keller are vivid, if not entirely favorable: She had big hands, a forceful personality and not much of a sense of humor. ...more

January 18, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI, like many world leaders, has spoken passionately about the urgent need to protect the planet from climate catastrophe. But unlike his fellow heads of state, the pontiff has actually created a carbon-neutral economy - and done it inexpensively and quickly. ...more

July 20, 2008

The Vatican insisted Friday that it is properly following Christian tradition by excluding women from the priesthood as it issued a new warning that women taking part in ordinations will be excommunicated. ...more

May 31, 2008

How do you guard a museum collection so priceless no one will put a value on it? ...more

February 10, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to set aside time in their lives for God and the needy, as he ushered in Christmas early today by celebrating Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. ...more

December 25, 2007

A long-missing Michelangelo sketch for the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, possibly his last design before his death, has been discovered in the basilica's offices, the Vatican newspaper said Thursday. ...more

December 7, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI strongly criticized atheism in a major document released Friday, saying it had led to some of the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" ever known. ...more

December 1, 2007

The Roman Catholic Church must figure out what it is doing wrong in the battle for souls, because so many Catholics are leaving the church to join Pentecostal and other evangelical movements, a top Vatican cardinal said Friday. ...more

November 24, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI lauded the contributions of Christians in Saudi Arabia - a kingdom that embraces a strict version of Islam, restricts worship by other faiths and bans Bibles and crucifixes - in the first meeting ever Tuesday between a pope and reigning Saudi king. ...more

November 7, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI named 23 new cardinals Wednesday, giving Texas its first 'prince' of the Roman Catholic Church in a clear recognition of the growing Latino presence in the U.S. church. ...more

October 18, 2007