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A fire in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kaduna engulfed several buildings in the St. Peter Minor Seminary complex on Tuesday, destroying more than $445,000 in property. The seminary had not been in use for two years — political insecurity and attacks on Christians had forced the Archdiocese of Kaduna to transfer its seminarians to a safer location. But seminary rector Fr. Edward Sati said the archdiocese had hoped to bring the seminarians back if the area becomes more secure. Now, that may be impossible, unless the archdiocese can rebuild. The Pillar spoke with Fr. Sati about the recent fire, what may have caused it, and the local reaction in the archdiocese. That conversation is below. It has been edited for length and clarity. Fr. Edward Sati, courtesy photo. Can you walk us through...

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis will deliver a final send-off for Cardinal George Pell during a funeral Mass on Saturday, the Vatican said, as revelations emerge of the Australian prelate’s growing concern about what he considered the “disaster” and “catastrophe” of the papacy under Francis. The Vatican on Thursday said the dean of the college of cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, would celebrate Pell’s funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. As is custom for cardinal funerals, Francis will deliver a final commendation and salute. Pell, who had served as Francis’ first finance minister for three years before returning to Australia to face child sex abuse charges, died on Tuesday at a Rome hospital of heart complications following hip surgery. He was 81. He had been dividing his time ...

The Australian cardinal succumbed to a suspected heart attack following hip replacement surgery in Rome, according to his secretary. Cardinal George Pell has died in Rome this evening at the age of 81.  The Australian cardinal had been admitted to a Rome hospital for routine hip replacement surgery on Tuesday afternoon.  The operation was successful and was in good spirits, but he later suffered a suspected cardiac arrest, according to his personal secretary, Father Joseph Hamilton, who added that they are awaiting an autopsy.   The Archdiocese of Sydney is expected to issue a statement shortly.   Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Pell the Vatican’s first prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy in 2014 in a move to help clear up Vatican finances after a series of highl...

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord commemorates Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist. Pope Francis baptized babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday and encouraged parents to teach their children to celebrate their baptism anniversary each year. On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 8, the Pope baptized 13 babies and presided over Mass beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes.   In a brief off-the-cuff homily, the Pope said that baptism is like a rebirth in Christ and therefore should be celebrated “like a birthday.” “Dear parents, thank you for bringing your children here to have them enter the Church. This is a good day,” Pope Francis said. “It is like a birthday because baptism makes us reborn in Christian life. That is why I advise you to teach your ch...

VATICAN CITY — Benedict XVI may have been laid to rest yesterday, but his impact on the Church is far from over. In fact, German Catholics are hopeful that Benedict’s passing will usher in a new era of his influence on the Church in their homeland — particularly at a time when the Church in Germany continues to be rocked by the much-criticized Synodal Way. “The fact that Benedict died at this moment of crisis brings up all his books, all the truths he brought forward, all the things he already told us, especially as Germans,” said Birgit Kelle, spokeswoman for New Beginning (Neuer Anfang), a movement of German Catholics opposed to the Synodal Way. “This has to have a new impact on the discussion in Germany. Because this man stood for everything [Synodal Way activists] don’t want.” In parti...

Prayer at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer III offered in Latin: Remember your servant Pope Emeritus Benedict, whom you have called from this world to yourself. Grant that he who was united with your Son in a death like his, may also be one with him in his Resurrection, when from the earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have died, and transform our lowly body after the pattern of his own glorious body. To our departed brothers and sisters, too, and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory, when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes. For seeing you, our God, as you are, we shall be like you for all the ages and praise you without end, through Christ our Lor...

The former pope was dressed in red and gold vestments and wearing a gold miter. Popes are traditionally dressed in red for their funerals.  Benedict XVI had his rosary in his folded hands. He was wearing ordinary black clerical shoes, not the red shoes he famously wore during his reign. Thousands of people waited in a long line on Jan. 2 to enter the basilica, some waiting before sunrise, to pray and pay their respects to Benedict XVI, who led the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. Giancarlo Rossi, who lives in Rome, joined the line at 7:45 a.m. He was praying a rosary for Benedict while waiting for the opportunity to pay his respects. “I met him a few times — I am from here. And so I came to greet the pope for the last time,” he told CNA. “And I am praying for him. I offered my Mass ...