Listen: Father Guido Sarducci on the Election of Pope Francis

Staff / Truthdig Mar 19, 2013 The "Saturday Night Live" Weekend Update correspondent made an appearance on KPFK radio's "Pocho Hour of Power" to comment on popes past and present. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Paradoxes of Pope Benedict XVI

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Feb 12, 2013 Pope Benedict's resignation shouldn't have surprised us as much as it did. As an institutionalist who believes in the Roman Catholic Church as the carrier of truth in a sinful world, he would worry a great deal about the impact of his own infirmities on the institution's capacity to thrive. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Pope Benedict XVI to Resign From Scandal-Plagued Church

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Feb 11, 2013 Whatever messages Pope Benedict tried to convey during his tenure were "drowned out" by the child abuse scandal and other controversies that rocked the Vatican during his reign, John Hooper writes at The Guardian. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

VaticanLeaks

Tom Janssen, Cagle Cartoons, The Netherlands Jun 3, 2012 Dig deeper

Pope’s Visit Won’t Change Cuban Politics

Staff / Truthdig Mar 27, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI may have prayed for change in the Cuban political system during his stopover on the island nation on Tuesday, but he won't see any tangible results anytime soon, according to one high-profile member of President Raul Castro's administration. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Colbert Report’: Contraception Crusade

Staff / Truthdig Feb 16, 2012 Being a Catholic himself, Stephen Colbert is able to break down for the layperson (read: godless liberal) the Vatican's stance on contraception, which recently became a hot-button (read: wedge) issue for Campaign 2012. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Catholic Bishop Resigns Over Secret Family

Staff / Truthdig Jan 4, 2012 It certainly is difficult to uphold a vow of celibacy when confronted by the contradictory evidence embodied in two teenage children, and this is the reason why a Los Angeles-area bishop, Gabino Zavala, recently resigned from his vaunted position within the Catholic Church. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vatican Isn’t Buying What Benetton’s Selling With Pope-Imam Ad

Staff / Truthdig Nov 18, 2011 Italian clothing company Benetton's latest foray into multiculturalism, this time with interfaith overtones, has landed the retailer in hot holy water with the Vatican In a blatant bid to stay relevant while broadcasting a shock-inducing message of love in the time of globalization, Benetton launched an ad campaign (more). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sarandon vs. the Vatican

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Oct 18, 2011 Susan Sarandon is known for rousing the rabble, both onscreen and off, and she has infused her public persona with her politics in a way that has made her a celebrity spokeswoman for a certain brand of lefty sensibility and a lightning rod for the right She does give the impression (more) . Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

It’s Time for St. John XXIII

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Apr 28, 2011 The Vatican's decision to speed Pope John Paul II on the road to sainthood aroused great elation -- and a backlash among Catholics who see the rush as unseemly. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Your Guide to Papal Beatification

Staff / Truthdig Jan 15, 2011 The late Pope John Paul II, who died only six years ago, will move a step farther along the path toward sainthood when the Vatican beatifies him May 1 The campaign for his being declared a saint is being helped by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, and by a French nun . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Pope’s Progress

The Rev. Madison Shockley / Truthdig Dec 4, 2010 Now, can millions of Catholics around the world be free to use condoms and worship God? Can thousands of priests and others free their tongues and hands to help fight the scourge of AIDS and not worry about the “evil” of condom use?Finally, Pope Benedict XVI has opened the theological door to affirming condom use to help stem the spread of HIV in the world. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )