As Pope Francis establishes the 265th pontificate since St. Peter following his March 13 ascension from the College of Cardinals, the world is embracing the new pontiff and his acts of humility and compassion. The pope’s popularity is extending beyond Vatican City, where he has upended traditional security protocol by …
New principal named for Sacred Heart Cathedral School
Sarah Trent, an educator with more than 20 years of teaching and administrative experience, has been named principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral School. The announcement was made March 19 by Father David Boettner, vicar general and rector of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In making the announcement …
Pontificate of Pope Francis officially inaugurated with Mass
VATICAN CITY — Although attempts were made to simplify the ceremony, Pope Francis officially inaugurated his ministry as pope and bishop of Rome in a liturgy filled with biblical symbolism and signs of the universality of his mission. But before the solemn rites began March 19, Pope Francis — known …
Bishop Stika recognizes Diocese of Knoxville Scouts
Bishop Richard F. Stika was the host for the 14th annual Bishop’s Gathering & Adult Awards luncheon honoring Scouting in the diocese. The event took place March 16 at All Saints Church in Knoxville and was sponsored by the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting. DCCS lay chairman George LeCrone Sr. …
Bishop Stika: A man of ‘peace’ and ‘prayer’ now leads the Catholic Church
Describing the Church’s new leader as a man of peace and prayer, Bishop Richard F. Stika spoke March 13 to the Knoxville media soon after Pope Francis was introduced to the world. Just as Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation was surprising, so was the relatively quick election of Cardinal Jorge Mario …
Habemus Papam! And he is from Argentina
VATICAN CITY — Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76 was elected the 266th pope and took the name Francis. The election March 13 came on the first full day of the conclave on the conclave’s fifth ballot. It was a surprisingly quick conclusion to a conclave that began with many …
In digital age, Vatican sticks with smoke, bells to announce results
VATICAN CITY — Though the Vatican has become increasingly savvy with more modern forms of communication, it’s still sticking with more primitive methods — swirling smoke and tolling bells — to announce whether a new pope has been elected. In a similar vein, the Vatican press hall will not immediately …
Sacred Heart Cathedral School hosting 5K, summer camps
Sacred Heart Cathedral School in coming weeks is hosting its second annual Heart and Sole 5K/1-mile Fun Run and its first-ever Camp Eagle series of summer camps. The Heart and Sole 5K/Fun Run is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19. The start/finish line is at the school, but participants …
Papal conclave to begin March 12
VATICAN CITY — The eighth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals has decided that the papal conclave will begin on Tuesday, March, according to a press statement issued Friday from the Holy See press office. A “pro eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica Tuesday …
Tenn. Rep. Black co-sponsors bill to broaden HHS mandate exemptions
Washington D.C. — Members of Congress, including a Tennessee House member, have introduced a new bill that would create a broad exemption to the HHS mandate and strengthen protections for health care professionals and institutions with moral and religious objections to abortion. “We have come together to act to protect …
A closer look at the 2013 conclave’s papal electors
VATICAN CITY — The group of cardinals preparing to enter a conclave to elect a new pope is slightly older — by four months — than the group that elected 78-year-old Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2005. Pope Benedict XVI, now 85, said his age and diminishing energy prompted him to …
Media coverage shifting focus to College of Cardinals
As His Holiness Benedict XVI fulfilled his resignation intention Feb. 28, ending his eight-year pontificate, the College of Cardinals that will select the pope emeritus’ successor has indicated it will hold a March 4 meeting to schedule a papal conclave. News of Benedict XVI’s departure has gripped the world and …
