Xavier University announces first female president (AP) A Catholic university in Cincinnati will appoint the first woman to lead the school in its 190-year history, school officials announced Monday. Xavier University said Colleen Hanycz, serving as president of La Salle University in Philadelphia, will become its 35th president this summer. She will succeed the Rev. Michael Graham, who said last year that he planned to retire. Hanycz will also become the first layperson, a non-ordained church member, to serve as Xavier’s president…
Benedict to receive vaccine (CNA) Pope emeritus Benedict XVI will receive the coronavirus vaccine as soon as it is available, his personal secretary said Tuesday. Archbishop Georg Gänswein told CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, Jan. 12 that the 93-year-old former pope would be vaccinated “as soon as the vaccine is available.” “I will also be vaccinated along with the whole household of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery,” said Gänswein, referring to the Vatican monastery where Benedict XVI has lived since resigning as pope in 2013…
Bishops call for end to federal death penalty (CNS) A joint statement from two U.S. bishops who head different committees of the U.S. bishops called for an end to the federal use of the death penalty as “long past time.” “We renew our constant call to President (Donald) Trump and Acting Attorney General (Jeffrey) Rosen: Stop these executions,” said the Jan. 11 statement from Archbishops Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities…
Catholic members of Congress reflect on attack on Capitol (CNS) Seeing the U.S. Capitol building being stormed by a rioting mob Jan. 6 brought a visceral reaction from Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican from Nebraska. Fortenberry, who is Catholic and often attends daily Mass at St. Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill, called the attack a “desecration…”
Pope’s doctor dies of COVID-19 complications (CNS) Pope Francis’s personal doctor died Jan. 9 of complications caused by COVID-19. Fabrizio Soccorsi, 78, had been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital Dec. 26 because of cancer, according to the Italian Catholic agency SIR, Jan. 9. However, he died because of “pulmonary complications” caused by COVID-19, the agency said, without providing further details…
