BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Thursday, Nov. 15, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

ST. ALBERTUS MAGNUS (ALBERT THE GREAT) (Germany, 1193-1280)
Dominican, Philosopher, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Benedict XVI devoted his catechesis on 3/24/10 to his fellow German
www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20100324...
Considered the greatest German scholar, theologian and philosopher of the Middle Ages, Albert the Great advocated the 'peaceful coexistence' of science and religion. In his writings, Albert commented on all of Aristotle's works and tried to explain as much as was known of the world at the time. He became a mentor to Thomas Aquinas, whom he outlived. After serving as Provincial in Germany for the Dominican order, he was made Bishop of Regensburg but gave it up after three years, preferring to return to teaching in Cologne where he died at age 87. He was canonized by Pius XI in 1931 and named a Doctor of the Church ['Doctor of Science'].
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111512.cfm


AT THE VATICAN TODAY

The Holy Father met with

- 11 Bishops of France on ad-limina visit. (This resumes the French bishops' ad-limina visits in 2012,
which began in the summer._

- Participants in the annual plenary session of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Address in Italian.


One year ago today...

The Italian clothing firm of Benetton unveiled a singularly disgusting 'shock ad' campaign titled 'UNHATE' that hit a new low in bad taste - three images featured the Pope and the Imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque/university, Obama and Presidsnt Hu of China, and Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, all photoshopped as if they were kissing each other on the mouth. The image with the Pope appeared as a giant poster on the Sant'Angelo bridge within view of the Vatican. Benetton subsequently withdrew the poster and the images showing the Pope from its ad campaign, and months later, 'settled' a legal suit filed by the Vatican by pledging to pay an unpsecified amount to one of the Pope's charities.