Behind Vatican Walls: Castel Gandolfo and Ferragosto

Friday, August 14, 2015

Alicia Ambrosio

Rome, the eternal city, is conveniently located just barely inland from Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast and is surrounded by hills. This combination of geographical features means the summer months are hot, humid and smoggy. By August, it is next to impossible to breathe in the city. Thus Roman residents flee and take refuge in the beach […]

Vatican Connections: Friday March 7, 2014

Friday, March 7, 2014

Alicia Ambrosio

This week was big in many ways: Pope Francis made some significant appointments, including naming his personal secretary to the number two position at the newly created Secretariat for the Economy. Wednesday was the beginning of Lent and Pope Francis’ first Ash Wednesday liturgy as pontiff. It was also the day one the Italian newspaper […]

Castel Gandolfo and papal summer plans

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Alicia Ambrosio

Many people remember the stunning views of the hillside town to which Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI retreated on February 28, 2013. Castel Gandolfo has been an official papal residence for five centuries. This summer is the second summer in the history of the town that the reigning pope has not spent the summer there. Cindy […]

Vatican Connections: The Papal Departure

Friday, March 1, 2013

Alicia Ambrosio

This was perhaps the most highly anticipated and yet unwanted week for the Vatican. On Thursday Pope Benedict’s resignation officially took effect. The days leading up to the unprecedented event were full of papal “lasts”: his last angelus, the last general audience, and his last meeting with the college of cardinals. This week’s edition of […]

When Popes Resign

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Alicia Ambrosio

With his announcement February 11, Pope Benedict XVI becomes one of only four popes to resign. The last time a pope resigned from the Chair of Peter was 1415, in effort to end a major schism. The Code of Canon Laws allows for a pope to resign. The only conditions are that the decision be […]