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Happy Birthday, Vatican City!

ShareWho knew? On February 11, 1929, the Lateran Treaty was signed.   (Actually, the Treaty was ratified in June of that year—so I guess the date to pop open the chianti would be June 7.) Anyway, in case you’ve forgotten your European history, the Lateran Treaty established a comfortable working relationship between the Church (in this case, [...]

Secret Spaces: A Peek Into the Apostolic Palace

Share I have Rome Fever.  It usually takes a bit longer to set in—I was, after all, stumbling on the cobblestones just three months ago.  But the news that St. Peter’s Square is about to undergo a major renovation has me thinking:  I’ve gotta see that!! The restoration project, which was just announced in L’Osservatore Romano, [...]

Edmund Cardinal Szoka: Forty Years of Episcopal Leadership

ShareToday Cardinal Edmund Szoka, archbishop-emeritus of the Archdiocese of Detroit and president-emeritus of the Vatican City State, celebrates the 40th anniversary of his episcopal ordination; and all of us here in the Detroit archdiocese join in honoring him for his long, outstanding service to the Church. He is a man to be reckoned with, a [...]

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To Rise From Ashes: The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

ShareOne hundred eighty-eight years ago today—on July 15, 1832—a careless workman started a fire on the roof of one of Rome’s great papal basilicas, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the  Walls.  The workman had been completing repairs on the lead tiles when a great fire erupted, causing near total destruction of the historic chapel. [...]

Saint Sylvester in Capite – A Busy Place Today!

ShareBut when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Having been prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”  Although he was grieved, the king [...]

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