Latest news with #Britannica.com
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV, First American Pontiff, Chooses Papal Name with a Long History. What That Could Mean
On Thursday, May 8, the new pope was introduced as Pope Leo XIV Choosing a new name upon being elected pope is a longstanding tradition, dating back to the first pope, St. Peter — whose baptismal name was Simon Taking the name of Leo XIV is a clear signal, at least to me, that this guy wants to put moral questions and moral leadership at the center of what the Pope is doing," one expert tells PEOPLE The 267th pope has chosen his new name: Pope Leo XIV. Born with his baptismal name of Robert Francis Prevost, his papal name is more of a traditional choice — and one with a storied history. The first of the name, Pope Leo I, was elected in 440 and sought to secure the unity of the Church during immense conflict. The most recent pope with that moniker, Pope Leo XIII, was head of the Church from 1878 until 1903, and was a force of connection as the Church navigated relationships with civil governments — and was less opposed to scientific progress, according to Additionally, he was seen as being a "great champion of the poor," Dr. Charles Gillespie — a Catholic studies professor at Sacred Heart University, tells PEOPLE. Leo XIII was also known for writing an encyclical called "Rerum novarum," which translates "The New Things" — and Gillespie says that inaugurated what is called "Catholic social teaching." "Taking the name of Leo XIV is a clear signal, at least to me, that this guy wants to put moral questions and moral leadership at the center of what the Pope is doing as the leader of Catholics, but also as a thought leader for the world, also a champion for the poor and the underrepresented," the expert explains. "I think that's a theme from Pope Francis we're going to see continued by Robert Prevost," Gillespie adds. "He also had the job of appointing and helping Pope Francis select the bishops of the world. So he was the person that Pope Francis chose to put in charge of putting the kind of leaders he wanted to see in his church around the globe." Dr. William T. Cavanaugh, a professor at DePaul University, also found it "interesting" that the name Leo was selected, and believes it may speak volumes about the importance the new pope may put on Catholic social teaching. Cavanaugh also says Leo XIII "was also a big promoter of the work of Thomas Aquinas," a Scholastic thinker from the 11th century, "which indicates a certain kind of openness to other intellectual currents." "Aquinas was famous for incorporating Aristotelian thought into Christian thought," he explains. "And so those are some possible directions that the name indicates." Adopting a new name as pope is a "longstanding tradition" that dates back to St. Peter, the very first pope, whose baptismal name was Simon, per the Vatican. Although some of the earliest popes chose not to change their names, in recent history, most have taken part in the time-honored tradition. According to the Vatican, the most popular pope names in history have been John, Gregory, Benedict and Pius, as well as recurrent names Clement, Innocent, Paul and Leo, A pope has never chosen the name Peter — the first pope and a truly untouchable Catholic figure — nor has any pope claimed James or Andrew (two disciples), nor Joseph (earthly father of Jesus) or Luke (author one of four gospels). As for how they decide on names, the Vatican explained that pontiffs "often chose the names of their immediate or distant predecessors out of respect, admiration, or recognition to mark continuity, but also different names to mark innovation." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Andrea Gagliarducci, a Vatican journalist, tells PEOPLE that Pope Leo XIV is, to her knowledge, "a very pragmatic person." "It shows the name Leo, which is interesting because it marks a discontinuity not only with Pope Francis but with all the last centuries Pope, which means that there is a fresh start," she explains. Such was the case with Pope Francis — there had been no pope by that name before him. Francis — born Jorge Bergoglio — chose his name to honor St. Francis of Assisi, who like the late pontiff, led a life marked by helping disenfranchised people. Francis's papal name did initially spark controversy, though, as some saw the move as a disregard for precedent, while others saw the move as a reflection of a shift in the Catholic church. -- additional reporting by Alina Trabattoni Read the original article on People
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What do Catholics believe? Pope chosen in conclave will lead one of the largest religions.
The Vatican announced this week that its College of Cardinals will convene on May 7 for the conclave process at the famed Sistine Chapel – where they'll elect Pope Francis' successor as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Francis, the 266th pontiff in the church's nearly 2000-year history, was interred over the weekend in the Basilica of St. Mary Major after a funeral service that drew dozens of global leaders and an estimated 400,000 mourners. In the interim, the College of Cardinals is the acting head of the church. But the man who succeeds Francis will preside over a religious body comprising nearly 18% of the world's population, according to the University of California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. But what do Catholics believe? How do they differ from other Christians? Here's what to know. Are Catholics Christian? All Roman Catholics are Christians, but not the other way around. Christianity, according to is a world religion rooted in the life, teachings and death of Jesus Christ, and Roman Catholicism is the largest of its three most significant offshoots. In general, the reference site states, Roman Catholics veer from other branches of Christianity in their beliefs about the sacraments and the importance of the papacy, in addition to a focus on the saints and the Virgin Mary. The church recognizes sacraments, or important rituals and processes, such as baptism and matrimony. What is a saint? Saints are persons in heaven who were officially canonized or not who did one of the following, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Lived heroically virtuous lives. Offered their life to others. Died for their faith. All saints must have lived lives worthy of imitation. When was Roman Catholicism founded? According to Roman Catholicism traces back to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in Roman-occupied Jewish Palestine around the year 30. Roman Catholicism became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the year 380, according to Learn Religions, a reference site produced by full-time ministers, published authors, licensed clergy and teachers. The religion would experience two major splits, first in 1054 with the Eastern Orthodox Church and then again with the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. How many Catholics are in the world? There are an estimated 1.4 billion Catholic adherents around the world. The Catholic News Agency earlier this year reported a slight increase in the number of Catholics globally, with the population growing to 1.406 billion in 2023 from 1.39 billion in 2022. A pilgrim prays near a statue of Virgin Mary at St. James Church in Medjugorje, southern Bosnia, on April 21, 2025. Pilgrims visited the Marian site in Medjugorje after hearing the news of Pope Francis' passing on April 21, 2025. Much of the growth is happening in Africa, where the number of Catholics climbed more than 3%, from 272 million in 2022 to 281 million in 2023, the news agency said. The Americas account for nearly 48% of the world's Catholics, according to Vatican News. What do Catholics believe about the pope? Catholics believe that each pope, the bishop of Rome, is a successor to the throne held by Saint Peter, with authority over the church, according to Britannica. Early church fathers recognized the apostle Peter as the person to whom Jesus Christ intended to pass his authority when he said, 'You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.' They also believe that Peter moved to Rome and was martyred there under the emperor Nero, though that is contested by some Protestants. Catholics believe in the pope's authority to ensure the continuity of church teachings and Catholic unity worldwide. For Catholics, the pope acts as a moral compass by speaking out on matters of faith and principles; Francis focused on social justice and reaching out to marginalized communities. Contributing: Julia Gomez This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Roman Catholicism? Next pope will lead pivotal religious body
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
What do Catholics believe? Pope chosen in conclave will lead one of the largest religions.
What do Catholics believe? Pope chosen in conclave will lead one of the largest religions. Show Caption Hide Caption World leaders gather at Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral Current and former U.S. presidents and other world leaders gathered at the Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral. The Vatican announced this week that its College of Cardinals will convene on May 7 for the conclave process at the famed Sistine Chapel – where they'll elect Pope Francis' successor as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Francis, the 266th pontiff in the church's nearly 2000-year history, was interred over the weekend in the Basilica of St. Mary Major after a funeral service that drew dozens of global leaders and an estimated 400,000 mourners. In the interim, the College of Cardinals is the acting head of the church. But the man who succeeds Francis will preside over a religious body comprising nearly 18% of the world's population, according to the University of California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. But what do Catholics believe? How do they differ from other Christians? Here's what to know. Are Catholics Christian? All Roman Catholics are Christians, but not the other way around. Christianity, according to is a world religion rooted in the life, teachings and death of Jesus Christ, and Roman Catholicism is the largest of its three most significant offshoots. In general, the reference site states, Roman Catholics veer from other branches of Christianity in their beliefs about the sacraments and the importance of the papacy, in addition to a focus on the saints and the Virgin Mary. The church recognizes sacraments, or important rituals and processes, such as baptism and matrimony. What is a saint? Saints are persons in heaven who were officially canonized or not who did one of the following, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Lived heroically virtuous lives. Offered their life to others. Died for their faith. All saints must have lived lives worthy of imitation. When was Roman Catholicism founded? According to Roman Catholicism traces back to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in Roman-occupied Jewish Palestine around the year 30. Roman Catholicism became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the year 380, according to Learn Religions, a reference site produced by full-time ministers, published authors, licensed clergy and teachers. The religion would experience two major splits, first in 1054 with the Eastern Orthodox Church and then again with the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. How many Catholics are in the world? There are an estimated 1.4 billion Catholic adherents around the world. The Catholic News Agency earlier this year reported a slight increase in the number of Catholics globally, with the population growing to 1.406 billion in 2023 from 1.39 billion in 2022. Much of the growth is happening in Africa, where the number of Catholics climbed more than 3%, from 272 million in 2022 to 281 million in 2023, the news agency said. The Americas account for nearly 48% of the world's Catholics, according to Vatican News. What do Catholics believe about the pope? Catholics believe that each pope, the bishop of Rome, is a successor to the throne held by Saint Peter, with authority over the church, according to Britannica. Early church fathers recognized the apostle Peter as the person to whom Jesus Christ intended to pass his authority when he said, 'You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.' They also believe that Peter moved to Rome and was martyred there under the emperor Nero, though that is contested by some Protestants. Catholics believe in the pope's authority to ensure the continuity of church teachings and Catholic unity worldwide. For Catholics, the pope acts as a moral compass by speaking out on matters of faith and principles; Francis focused on social justice and reaching out to marginalized communities. Contributing: Julia Gomez
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When is Ramadan 2025? What to know about Islam's month of sacrifice
Believers say it was during Ramadan that Allah revealed the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad. The text would become the religious guide for Muslims. Falling in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the appearance of the crescent moon denotes the start of Ramadan. Mosques are filled with the faithful praying together. Along with prayers, fasting marks the month of Ramadan. Forgiveness is sought from Allah by those observing the tenets of Ramadan. Although Ramadan does feature elements of atonement among worshippers., this period is less about seeking forgiveness and more about self-restraint. Here is what to know about Ramadan and how the faithful honor its traditions, according to and Brandeis University. Ramadan begins Friday, Feb. 28, and ends Saturday, March 30. Because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, which is shorter than the sun's cycle, its dates shift ahead by 11 days every year. Last year, for instance, Ramadan started on the evening of March 10. From dawn until sundown, Ramadan observers abstain from food, drink and sexual relations. Adolescents and some pre-adolescents fast, at least for short periods, but there is no exact age for Muslims to start to fast during Ramadan. Fasting is generally introduced to children according to their age and their capacity. People who are not obligated to fast during Ramadan include pregnant or nursing women, older people, those who are too weak and those with mental illness. Observers of Ramadan cannot drink water during Ramadan's daylight hours. An iftar meal is the one observers of Ramadan enjoy once they break their fast. Ramadan fast can be broken at sunset. Ramadan will be observed twice in 2030. The shift ahead in days due to the lunar calendar being shorter than the sun's cycle will mean Ramadan will come the evenings of Jan. 5 and Dec. 26. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ramadan: What to know about this religious holiday for Muslims
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Unexploded World War I mortars found at construction site, Washington police say
An archaeologist at a construction site reported finding unexploded military munitions, Washington police said. The explosives found Tuesday, Feb. 25, appear to be mortar shells dating back to World War I, the Vancouver Police Department said in a Feb. 26 news release. They were found during construction at Pearson Field, a municipal airport, police said. A police bomb squad responded to assess the situation, cops said. They safely exploded the first mortar shell with the help of a U.S. Air Force explosive disposal team. More mortar shells were found and destroyed Wednesday, Feb. 26, police said. A mortar is a 'portable, short-barreled, muzzle-loading artillery piece that fires explosive projectiles at low velocities, short ranges, and high, arcing trajectories,' according to Vancouver, Washington, is about a 165-mile drive south from Seattle. Downpour reveals grenade — with pin still in it — sitting in couple's yard, NC cops say Vintage mortar round left in Florida bar's parking lot ignites jokes on social media Dog digs up torpedo-shaped device — then owner 'quickly realized what it was,' cops say
