Latest news with #JohnDolan
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Selection of Robert Prevost as Pope has Phoenix's Catholic community excited about the church's next chapter
The Brief St. Mary's Biscillica celebrates the selection of American Robert Prevost as Pope. Diocese of Phoenix Bishop John Dolan says the selection will have a worldwide impact in and outside the church. Elsewhere in Phoenix, Brophy College Preparatory President Bob Ryan says the whole school was buzzing about the historic selection. PHOENIX - Catholics across the Valley are also reacting to the selection of American Robert Prevost as the new leader of the Catholic Church. St. Mary's Biscillica has a history with the papacy. The backstory Pope John Paul II came to visit back in 1987. Now, it is decorated to celebrate a new chapter in the Catholic Church. What we know The joyous rings of bells across St. Mary's Biscillica in downtown Phoenix May 8. The trees and balconies are draped with gold banners, in honor of the new pontiff: Leo XIV. "He will have a worldwide impact with people within the church and outside the church," said Bishop John Dolan. Bishop John Dolan with the Phoenix Diocese says he's already ushering in several firsts for the papacy. Not only is he the first American Pope, he is also the first Pope to be a member of Augustian religious order. Local perspective The historic day also made an impact at Brophy College Preparatory off of Camelback and Central. "We had a viewing party in the activity center, and a lot of teachers, when there was white smoke, they turned it on in their classroom," said Bob Ryan, the school's President. President Bob Ryan says it was a moving moment for the high school students, who were no older than six when Francis became Pope, to witness the moment unfold. "Kids were excited and at lunch today, that was the buzz around campus," said President Ryan. As for how Leo will approach his new role, Bishop Dolan says his first words as pope, emphasizing peace, gives a profound glimpse into what could be ahead. "He used the words that Pope Francis would often use: build bridges. So in many ways, I think that he is going to be talking about that too," said Bishop Dolan. He added that Pope Leo's missionary life in Peru will likely also be prominent, reaching out to the poor and marginalized. Big picture view Not only is Pope Leo from the United States, he's from Chicago - a city with strong connections to Phoenix. Some of the people we spoke to felt a lot of pride from their Midwest ties to the newest pontiff. "I've had four or five customers all excited about it, 'hey guess what! Guy's from Chicago!" said Bob Pappanduros, owner of The Chicago Hamburger Co. News of the first American Pope made it to Pappanduros through his customers. Bob, who grew up in Chicago himself, says the city raises strong characters. "He's gonna have to be a pretty tough guy, for one," said Pappanduros. Dig deeper On a deeper level, others were sharing the hope Pope Leo leads with compassion. "I think he's going to bring, you know, that sensitivity to diversity and inclusion and that's what we would want from a pope because that's what God's love is about. He loves everyone, he created everyone," said Karen Mariana. Lifelong Catholic, Alisa Mann, hopes Pope Leo continues on the principles of Pope Francis. "There were lots of changes with the previous Pope and, you know, a lot of modernization and a lot of different things. For someone who's been a Catholic their whole life and went to a private Catholic school, definitely a lot of changes and so exciting, as you know, we continue to modernize this church," she said. The other side Meanwhile, Bob Pappanduros is looking forward to adding a new face to the walls of his restaurant. "I have a wall in the corner that has every mayor's election poster since old man Daley in the 1950s, and so I told the second or third customer that came in today who told me about the Pope that I want his election poster. Elect Bob for Pope!" he said.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
The elite Swiss Guard watching over conclave have a dramatic role as papal bodyguards
The elite Swiss Guard watching over conclave have a dramatic role as papal bodyguards The answer to why the guards are the pope's chosen protectors lies in their Renaissance-style uniform. It's an homage to an epic last stand they once made. Show Caption Hide Caption Phoenix Bishop John Dolan discusses late Pope Francis and 'Conclave' Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Bishop John Dolan talks about Pope Francis and the movie "Conclave" during an interview about the pope's successor. Armor like a knight on horseback. A helmet with bright-colored plumes sticking out. Wide blue and gold-striped pants that can seem almost clown-like. The Swiss Guard, the pope's iconic bodyguards, look ceremonial but in the pageantry of the Renaissance-style uniform lies the answer to why they will be protecting the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday as cardinals assemble to choose the successor to Pope Francis. Their uniform is an homage to the epic last stand the guards once made to defend the pope. It's a declaration that they are willing to do so again, according to Bry Jensen, a historian and host of a podcast about the papacy. 'The reason is the sack of Rome in 1527,' Jensen, host of the Pontifacts show, told USA TODAY. '147 of the 189 Swiss Guards including their commander died and were torn apart to give Pope Clement VII time enough to escape.' Renegade soliders from the Holy Roman Empire decided the sack the city. They were indignant over not being paid and directed their anger against the church, which was seen as corrupt then, according to the Encyclopedia of European History. The attack came amid burgeoning anti-church sentiment in Europe. Questions about the museum-piece-looking guards and their capabilities come as the conclave begins within the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The guards have no part in the process. But they are there to ensure it happens uninterrupted. The earliest conclaves in the 1400s pre-date the founding of the Swiss Guards but since being established in 1506 they have been expected to protect the pope and in turn, the college of cardinals during periods between church leaders. Swiss soldiers were originally picked for the position because of their fighting prowess, according to Enyclopedia Brittanica. Fighters from the alpine nation were renowned throughout Europe dating back to Roman times, the encylopedia says, and they proved themselves in 1527. Their level of readiness has risen and fallen over the centuries. At points the guards were largely ceremonial. They even mutinied in 1913 when one commander of the troops tried to turn them back into a lethal force again, according to a history of the guards titled The Pope's Soldiers: A Military History of the Modern Vatican by David Alvarez. But today they are a force fit to look after the head of the church with 1.4 billion followers worldwide. Their antique-looking uniforms belie the elite training in counterintelligence, close-quarters combat and bomb disposal that they receive. But for those who know the story, it's a clue to the lengths they are willing to go. 'I swear that I will faithfully, loyally and honorably serve the Supreme Pontiff and his legitimate successors,' the guards say when they are sworn in, 'and dedicate myself to them with all my strength, sacrificing, if necessary, my life to defend them.' Here's what else to know about the elite guards protecting the cardinals throughout the conclave. Epic last stand The last stand of the Swiss Guard happened in 1527 when soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire invaded Rome looking to sack the city. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, they "embarked on an orgy of destruction and massacre, terrorizing the population and humiliating Pope Clement VII." "The mercenaries, many of them are protestant so they're really keen to kill some church men, especially the pope," Jensen said. "They're eager to string him up." Pope Clement VII was saying mass at St. Peter's at that time and had to be whisked away along a special passage connecting the heart of the Vatican to the Castel Sant'Angelo, the longtime fortress of the papacy near St. Peter's, according to the Oxford University Press. Of 189 guards, 42 went with the pope, according to Jensen. The rest stayed protecting the entrance to the passage, the Passetto di Borgo. 'The rest literally know they are standing there to die, but they last long enough to let the pope get out of dodge,' Jensen said. Swiss soldiers had already been picked to guard the pope in 1506 by Pope Julius II, known as the 'Warrior Pope.' He chose them because the Swiss were renowned fighters throughout Europe then. They sealed their place as the pope's official guard for the ages just a few decades later. Why did the Swiss Guard expand under Francis There will be 25 more Swiss Guards protecting the Sistine Chapel during the conclave than when Pope Francis was elected in 2013. At the time there were 110 Swiss Guards. Today there are 135. The change dates back to 2018. Vatican officials cited threats of terrorism during a particularly active year for the papacy. Unofficially, fans of Pope Francis say it's because the church leader who championed the poor had a habit of sneaking out of the Vatican to spend time with people on the streets of Rome, according to Jensen. When did the Swiss Guard last see action? Jules Repond, a Swiss Guard commander in the early 1900s, was the leader who aimed to turn his troops back into a fighting force after years of serving a more ceremonial role, according to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. In 1913, Swiss Guards mutinied for a week in response but eventually received military training as Repond wanted, author David Alvarez wrote in The Pope's Soldiers: A Military History of the Modern Vatican. Over 50 years later, their readiness was put to the test when Mehmet Ali Ağca shot and wounded Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square in 1981. Swiss Guards failed to stop the Turkish national from hitting the Polish pope though he survived. The event was a wake-up call for the papal bodyguard. Today they are all still Swiss citizens. Other requirements are that candidates must be a man between the age of 19 and 30 and a practicing Catholic, according to the official Swiss Guard website. They must also be single when joining the guard although they can marry after serving for five years if they are at least 25 years old and commit to serving another three years, the official Swiss Guard website states. Training they receive begins with two months of basic training. For the first month, recruits train with the Ticino Cantonal Police at the Swiss Police and Army Training Center in Isone, Switzerland. Here, the recruits learn firefighting, first aid, shooting, personal safety, self-defense, tactical behavior and the notions of law, the official Swiss Guard website states. For the second month, recruits train at the Pontifical Swiss Guard Headquarters in Vatican City. They learn proper saluting, individual and group formations, guard changes and how to handle the halberd, a weapon used throughout the 13th to 16th centuries that combines an ax blade with a spike or hook. Recruits also learn Italian, if they aren't already fluent. Contributing: Greta Cross and Kim Hjelmgaard.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
eHealth, Inc. to Hold Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Earnings Call on February 26 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- eHealth, Inc. (Nasdaq: EHTH), a leading private online health insurance marketplace, today announced that the company plans to release fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 financial results on February 26, 2025. The company will hold an earnings conference call beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on February 26th, 2025 to discuss these results. The call will be hosted by eHealth's chief executive officer, Fran Soistman, and eHealth's chief financial officer, John Dolan. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call may do so by dialing (800) 549-8228. The participant passcode is 72156. A live webcast of the earnings call will be available under "Events & Presentations" on the Investor Relations page of our website at The webcast replay will also be available on our investor relations website two hours following the conclusion of the call and will be archived for a period of one year. The company suggests participants for both the conference call and those listening via the web dial in or sign on at least 15 minutes in advance of the call. About eHealth, Inc. We're Matchmakers. For over 25 years, eHealth has helped millions of Americans find the healthcare coverage that fits their needs at a price they can afford. As a leading independent licensed insurance agency and advisor, eHealth offers access to over 180 health insurers, including national and regional companies. For more information, visit or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Open positions can be found on our career page. Investor Relations Contact:Kate Sidorovich, CFASenior Vice President, Investor Relations & Strategyinvestors@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE eHealth, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
