CCS - Note on the Beatification of John Paul II
This Note from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints states that, although the Cause for John Paul II was begun before the five-year period stipulated by the Norms, the common canonical measures concerning Causes of Beatification and Canonization were fully observed.

Pope John Paul II - A Life Entrusted to the Mercy of God
This is a translation of excerpts of Blessed John Paul II's Testament, written by the late Pontiff on 3 March 1979, with which subsequent additions were integrated.

Pope Benedict XVI - Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: Verbum Domini
The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini, on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church, was presented on 11 November 2010 in the Holy See Press Office. Verbum Domini, dated 30 September, Memorial of St. Jerome, is the Holy Father's summary of, and response to the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held in Rome from 5 to 26 October 2008.

Pope Benedict XVI - Message for the XLIV World Day of Peace, 2011
Here is the the text of Benedict XVI's Message for the 44th World Day of Peace, which was observed 1 Jan. 2011. The theme of the Pope's Message was religious freedom as the path to peace.

Pope Benedict XVI - Christmas Blessing Urbi et Orbi, 2010
On Christmas Day, Saturday, 25 December 2010, the Holy Father delivered the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Message to the many faithful gathered in St Peter's Square. From the central loggia of the Basilica he greeted the faithful in 65 different languages. He then imparted his Blessing to the City and to the World.

Secretariat of State - Communiqué on New Legislation for the Prevention of Illegal Activities in Financial and Monetary Sectors
In conjunction with the Apostolic Letter (Motu Proprio) of Benedict XVI, establishing four new laws against money-laundering and financing of terrorism, the Secretariat of State published this Communiqué, providing background and explanation.

VIS - Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
On 15 January 2011, the Vatican Information Service announced the erection of a Personal Ordinariate within the territory of England and Wales for Anglicans, clergy and faithful, wishing to enter full communion with the Catholic Church, while retaining certain of their traditions.

William E. May - Using Vaccines Obtained From Intentionally Aborted Human Embryos
William E. May, Senior Fellow at the Culture of Life Foundation, responds to the question, whether it is ever permissable to use vaccines derived from aborted embryos, in light of the CDF's Dignitas Personae.

CDF - On Opus Angelorum
Here is the complete text, provided by the Vatican Information Service, of the English-language version of a circular letter issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, dated 2 October 2010 and signed by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the congregation.

Pope Benedict XVI - St Veronica Giuliani
On 15 December 2010, at the General Audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall, the Holy Father commented on St Veronica Giuliani, a Capuchin Poor Clare and mystic who was born 350 years ago. She is known for having united her sufferings to the Passion of Christ, to give herself for the salvation of mankind.

Prelate Who Saved Some 10,000 Jews Dead at 98
An archbishop who saved some 10,000 Jews during the Second World War in collaboration with Pope Pius XII died on 20 December 2010. He was 98. Archbishop Giovanni Ferrofino, former apostolic nuncio to Ecuador and Haiti, "was perhaps the greatest living eye witness to Pius XII's life-saving efforts on behalf of Jews interviewed by PTWF," the Pave the Way Foundation.

CDF - On Opus Angelorum
Here is the complete text, provided by the Vatican Information Service, of the English-language version of a circular letter issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, dated 2 October 2010 and signed by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the congregation.

Pope Benedict XVI - Apostolic Journey to the United Kingdom (16-19 September 2010)
The Holy Father pays an Apostolic visit to the United Kingdom, on the occasion of the Beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman in Birmingham, England, on Sunday 19 September 2010.

Pope Benedict XVI - Apostolic Journey of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States
This is an index page, providing links to the Holy Father’s addresses during his Apostolic Journey to the United States, and visit to the United Nations Headquarters, 15 – 21 April 2008.

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - Normae de Gravioribus Delictis
This 31-article document, published by the Holy See on 15 July 2010, streamlines the process for dealing with priests who sexually abuse minors, as well as clarifying and updating other procedures and crimes handled by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The document, much of whose content was already in force, was approved by Benedict XVI on May 21.

VPO - History of Norms Addressing Gravest Crimes
Here is a historical summary, provided by the Vatican Press Office, giving background to the promulgation of Normae de Gravioribus Delictis, 15 July 2010, by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

LOR - Biographies of New Blesseds
With each beatification, L'Osservatore Romano publishes a short biography of the new Blessed, which we add to our folder, indexed by year and by name. This week bios have been added for beatifications on 6 November and 12 November

 Mother Angelica's Writings
An index page with the titles of all Mother Angelica's books, mini-books, and tracts in our Document Library.