Update: Pope Won’t Face Charges for Not Buckling Up

BERLIN (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI can cross an outstanding charge of failing to use a seatbelt from his list of worries. The southern German city of Freiburg on Wednesday (Nov. 30) threw out charges against the pontiff for riding in his popemobile without a seatbelt...

Pope Seeks Protestant Allies to Combat Secularism

BERLIN (RNS) All faiths have to work together to stanch the tide of secularism sweeping the world, warned Pope Benedict XVI on Friday (Sept. 23) during the second day of a tour through his native Germany. Benedict focused Friday on ecumenical meetings, including a...

Pope Begins First State Visit to Homeland

BERLIN (RNS) Thousands of people turned out Thursday (Sept. 22) for Pope Benedict XVI’s first official visit to his native Germany, although at times it was hard to tell if people were there to welcome him or denounce him. There were protests all across Berlin on...

Germans Await Pope’s Return, This Time as a Statesman

BERLIN (RNS) A German visiting Germany isn’t normally big news. Even if it’s a famous expatriate German returning home for a visit, such returns to the homeland are hardly front-page stories. But this is a visit by Pope Benedict XVI and, strictly speaking, his first...