The Papacy

The term “pope” comes from the ancient Greek word “πάππας” (Latin “papa” = father).The term “pope” is an honorary title. The title comes from the Greek world, where it initially referred to abbots and bishops, and from the 5th century AD, to both the Bishop of Rome and the other patriarchs. Since the Middle Ages, the term “Pope” has been used as shorthand for the holder of the Petrine office, although the term “Bishop of Rome” is formally the correct term. As Bishop of Rome and thus successor to the…

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Pope’s death: why the corpse didn’t decompose

Typically, the body begins to decompose about 24 hours after death. In the case of Pope Francis, this process was halted using a special method. Thanatopraxy was used to ensure that the faithful could say goodbye to the head of the church one last time. Thousands of people will file before Pope Francis’s body in St. Peter’s Basilica until Friday. For Catholics, the opportunity to bid farewell to the dead pope is a ritual and a gesture of gratitude. So that the faithful can see the Pope one last time,…

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Weather in Austria: First continuous rain, THEN everything changes again

The temperature trend is upwards, especially after the weekend. Even the sun will be out more often. Still changeable and cool until FridayThe weather will remain unsettled in many parts of Austria until and including Friday. Thick clouds, wind, and comparatively cool temperatures will continue to dominate events. Rain is to be expected at times, especially in the north and east of the country, so the umbrella remains a reliable companion. More sun on the weekend due to high pressureThe weather will start to improve on Saturday. An area of…

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All church bells in Austria will ring for the Pope’s funeral

As a sign of mourning over Pope Francis’s death, bells will ring throughout Austria on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. to coincide with the start of the funeral celebrations for the head of the Church in the Vatican. This was announced by the Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference, Peter Schipka, to the Kathpress news agency on Thursday. Austria’s largest bell, the Pummerin at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, will ring for ten minutes.Since the Pope’s death, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, like other churches in the country, has been draped in black…

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Funeral, new pope – conclave will begin in few days

The conclave will begin in Rome in a few days, during which the cardinals will elect a new pope. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn talks about his expectations.Tomorrow, Saturday, Pope Francis will be buried in Rome—quite simply, as he wished—not in the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica but in his favorite church, Santa Maria Maggiore, in a simple wooden coffin under the floor. The tomb slab will only say “Franciscus.” His funeral will be based on how he lived: simple and close to the people, especially the poor. Nevertheless, a mega-event with many…

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Health hazard: tea bags release huge amounts of microplastics!

Many people drink tea as part of everyday life, but what ends up in the cup is a cause for concern. As part of a recent market check, Greenpeace examined various herbal teas and published alarming findings. The main problem: Many tea bags contain microplastics that are released during brewing. Tea bags release microplasticsMany people drink tea as part of everyday life, but what ends up in the cup is a cause for concern. As part of a recent market check, Greenpeace examined various herbal teas and published alarming findings.…

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ChatGPT favored the Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the most likely successor to Francis

On Wednesday, the AFP news agency asked four artificial intelligence (AI) chat programs about their predictions. But AI is also struggling to come up with clear answers to the question of the papal succession, which is not only keeping Vatican insiders and betting shop operators around the world on tenterhooks. Since Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church has been in mourning, and speculation about his successor has begun. However, the outcome of the conclave, in which cardinals decide on the next pope in a secret procedure, remains…

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Nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis from Saturday

Following the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican has declared a nine-day period of mourning starting on Saturday. The traditional period of mourning for the pontiff, known as the “Novendiale”, will last until May 4, the Vatican announced Wednesday evening. During this time, daily ceremonies will be held in St. Peter’s Basilica in honor of the deceased head of the Church. The body of Pope Francis was laid out in St. Peter’s Basilica, and since Wednesday, the faithful have been able to bid farewell at the open coffin.According to the…

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After Pope Francis: How the Conclave to Elect a New Pope Works

With Pope Francis’s passing, the Catholic Church faces one of its most sacred and secretive processes: the conclave to elect a new pope. While the event carries centuries of tradition, many outside the Vatican don’t know how it unfolds. The word conclave comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key.” That’s because the cardinals—senior church officials from around the world—are locked inside the Sistine Chapel during voting. No phones, no press, no contact with the outside world. The goal is to protect the integrity of the decision and…

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