Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged

Pope Francis joined tens of thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday at a funeral Mass for Benedict XVI, a rare gathering for a dead pope presided by a living one.

The Vatican, enveloped in a thick fog, featured heads of state and bishops from around the world who came to Rome to mourn Benedict’s death and remember his papacy.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who served as head of the Roman Catholic church from 2005 until his surprise resignation in 2013 and known for his writings and defense of traditional values to counter the increased secularization of the West, died Saturday at age 95.   

Benedict’s death was announced by the Vatican. Pope Francis will preside over the funeral Mass on Jan. 5 at St. Peter’s Square.

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi went out of his way to avoid a gaggle of French defenders throughout the World Cup final on Sunday, slicing past them in an effort to score goals.

(REVIEW) Want to gaze at the enormity of the Sistine Chapel without ever going to the Vatican? Now you can.

“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,” currently on a 27-city world tour, highlights the wonder of one of history’s greatest artistic achievements, allowing visitors to experience it like they never have before.

This exhibit is truly a chance to see Michelangelo’s work at eye level. It’s also a much cheaper and closer option than flying to Rome. For that alone, it’s worth a look.

During a ceremony Friday at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis offered up a special prayer for Ukraine and Russia in connection with a Marian prophecy that’s over 100 years old.

The pope called on members of the church hierarchy, along with believers around the world, to join him in the consecration of Ukraine and Russia before an estimated crowd of 3,500, an act triggered by a 1917 apocalyptic vision of Mary to three children in the Portuguese city of Fatima.