Day: May 10, 2025

Since the early days of the Catholic Church, the choice of a pope’s name has never been trivial. It often reflects a spiritual intention, an ideological origin, or a tribute to a significant figure in the Church’s history. When analyzing the 266 popes elected since St. Peter in the 1st century, specific names appear particularly often. John, the most popular papal nameThe name John was chosen by 23 popes, making it the most frequently used name in the papacy’s history. Its popularity is due to several factors, including the critical…

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Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as pope with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday morning. There, the day before, the purple vestry had elected him as the successor to Pope Francis in the conclave. During the solemn entry into the magnificent chapel of the Apostolic Palace, Leo XIV wore the white chasuble and white mitre that are customary at Easter. His footwear was striking: he wore dark shoes instead of the red ones typical of many popes – a tradition that his predecessor, Francis, had already dispensed…

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A friendly driver or an attentive waitress: good service is often rewarded with a tip in this country. But what about financial appreciation abroad? In most countries, a tip of five to ten percent of the bill is the right amount. However, as the Association of German Banks explains, you should dig deeper into your pocket in the USA or Canada, where 15 to 20 percent is expected—unless a service charge is already included in the bill. In American restaurants, in particular, tipping is an unspoken obligation. It is better…

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