Photos: Inappropriate advertisements help finance Church upkeep in Italy

Reader Joe writes:

My daughter just returned from a semester in Rome. She was with a group of students and seminarians, mostly from Saint Thomas University in Minnesota, all of whom enjoy your website. She shared some of your humorous captions with me, so I thought you might like to see a couple of photos that I took recently in Milan.

The first place I went was the famous Gothic cathedral. You can imagine how shocking it was to find large (40-50 foot) billboards plastered on the sides of the cathedral! One of them reminded me of a 'B' rated sci-fi movie from the 1950's-the Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman. Apparently, in Italy, many churches are actually owned and maintained by the government with the stipulation that the faithful can continue to worship at these sites. Scaffolding space is rented out to advertisers when renovations are underway. That is because the Church can't afford to maintain all of the priceless artwork and architecture.

I couldn't agree more with this gentleman's reaction. When I was in Milan several years ago to see the Milan Cathedral, these advertisements were not in place. I do remember, however, often seeing inappropriate advertisements featured to the scaffolding at other Catholic Churches in Italy (and Austria).

I wonder if these Churches could think up some sort of workaround. For instance: how about starting a fund to buy out the advertisement space with Catholic ads? Parishioners and tourists could add money to this fund, which would enable Catholic outfits to compete against the mainstream promoters. I'd have gladly donated a couple euros to such a fund when I was visiting.

Anyway, it's the first solution that came to mind. What do you think?

Photos: American Archbishops receive the pallium in Rome

Looking good:

"Edwin Frederick O'Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, US, is embraced by Pope Benedict XVI after receiving his pallium". (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

"John Clayton Nienstedt, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, US, walks away from Pope Benedict XVI, behind him, after receiving his pallium (white and black woolen shawl) during a Mass celebrated by the pontiff and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, not pictured, in St. Peter's Basilica, Sunday, June 29, 2008. The Mass marking the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul included readings from the Gospels in Latin and Greek by Catholic and Orthodox clerics. During the ceremony Benedict bestowed the pallium on 40 archbishops from around the world to symbolize their bond with the Vatican. One by one the archbishops, wearing crimson vestments, knelt before the pope to receive the shawl and the pontiff's embrace. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)"

Related: Pope calls new Archbishops to ecclesial unity and fidelity (CNA)

AmP on the road: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

During my recent visit to St. Louis, MO I had the opportunity of visiting the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis [wikipedia], the seat (until August) of Archbishop Raymond Burke.

I was lucky enough to show up at the cathedral precisely when a tour was starting, which I decided to follow around. If facts and figures are your thing, the 83,000 square feet of mosaic art in this Church have been under construction for a period of 75 years I found out!

Pope Paul VI called it the "outstanding cathedral of the Americas" and having been myself, I can see why. It's certainly one of the most beautiful churches I've seen in the Americas, and the most beautiful large one. There's a wealth of artistic and architectural styles harmoniously integrated in its cavernous interior.

The Cathedral Basilica's website offers an online tour of it's art. I took a few pictures myself:

This one below intrigued me - I had never seeing an "Hourglass Angel" before. Have you?

The rest of the pictures are in a new AmericanPapist Flickr Album.

I also took a video of the cathedral interior and put it on my YouTube channel:

If you ever have the opportunity of visiting the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica - do so!

Photo: Simply Stunning Papal Vestments Worn Today

Wow:

"Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead the Vespri's ceremony at the St. Paolo's Basilica in Rome June 28, 2008."

REUTERS/Tony Gentile (ITALY)

More photos at NLM. CNA has launched a website dedicated to this Year of St. Paul.

Picture: Latin Mass celebrated on a navy supercarrier

A late Memorial Day tribute:

Photo credit: "The extraordinary form of Holy Mass offered on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Courtesy of Chas. Johnson, Sac." - Meeting Christ in the Liturgy.

Ph/t: Phatmass user "KnightofChrist."

Awesome Procession Pic (+other things liturgical)

Shawn Tribe at New Liturgical Movement gives us something else to rejoice and wonder at:

In second place, this picture from the Chartres pilgrimage (which I narrowly missed attending when I was in Europe the summer of 2003).

Also see the breathtaking photopost on English rood screens.

update: and for good measure, Damian Thompson on the Latin Mass in England:

...Interestingly, [a Cardinal] added that the Pope wants this Mass to become normal in parishes, so that ‘young communities can also become familiar with this rite’.”

[Damian Thompson:] "The idea of young people discovering the ancient Mass, said entirely in Latin with zero opportunity for congregational showing-off, will truly horrify with-it bishops and their Sandalista worship leaders. And what will Bobbie (“Cry me a river”) Mickens have to say?

I do wonder, however, whether the Pope realises that if he wants the classical Mass celebrated widely in this country he will have to make one extra provision. New bishops. Lots of them. And fast."

Pictures: The Best Photos of Pope Benedict XVI

Flickr User Christus Vincit has done us a service - the best photos of Pope Benedict XVI.

A sample:

.... an endless supply of Papist Pictures of the Day! ;-)

Photos: Pope Delivers Homily at Funeral Mass for Cardinal Trujillo

More fantastic photos at New Liturgical Movement.

From the Vatican Information Service:

This morning in St. Peter's Basilica, Benedict XVI pronounced a homily following the funeral Mass for the late Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, who died on Saturday 19 April at the age of 72.

The Pope highlighted "the zeal and passion" with which the cardinal worked over the last 18 years, "his tireless activity in safeguarding and promoting the family and Christian marriage" as well as "the courage with which he defended the non-negotiable values of human life".

Among the late cardinal's achievements, the Pope mentioned "the 'Lexicon', which is a valuable formational text for pastoral care workers and an instrument for dialogue with the modern world on the fundamental themes of Christian ethics. We cannot", he added, "but be grateful for the tenacious battle he fought to defend the truth of familial love and to spread the gospel of the family".

He was well loved and will be dearly missed.

Exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from the NYC papal Mass!

These sent to me by AmP reader Jeff, studying at St. Mary's Seminary and University.

A gorgeous altar crucifix, seen close up. This guy had access.

The sacristy (aka the Yankee's locker room) all decked-out.

Cardinals DiNardo, O'Malley and Maida chat before the Mass.

Cardinal Folley takes an opportunity to get off his feet prior to the official activities.

Cardinal O'Malley shows off his spiffing matching red socks. Get it ... red sox?! :)

Angels in the outfield, and bishops in the dugout!

The commemorative plaque donated by the KofC that will remain in Yankee Stadium.

I had to laugh at this one: the famous orange fanta that the pope supposedly loves!

A couple more photos can be found on the AmP Flickr set I've created for these.

My thanks to Jeff for sending these to me. I think they reveal a nice alternative perspective on what was - by all accounts - a "well polished production of a Mass."

If you have any behind-the-scenes photos, please, send them along! I'd love to share them with AmP readers.

Photos: Pope addresses U.S. Bishops and visits National Shrine

Some good images in this batch....

Note how attentive Francis Cardinal George appears. It's wonderful for me to see these pictures. because I often attend daily Mass in the crypt church of the National Shrine where this was held! I've sat in those pews!

AmP Pictures: Pope Benedict visits the National Shrine

Some choice pictures from the AmP photo stream I uploaded today:

(check back tomorrow for my photos taken at the Papal Mass!)

The rest of them (in high-quality) are on this AmP Flickr Album.

Day 2 Pictures: Pope Benedict at the White House

Fresh from the photostream. One of my roomates was lucky enough to have a ticket (I haven't had a chance to see his pictures yet, these are from the AP's photo feed):





Anyone who lives in DC would know what a miracle today's weather is - just glorious.

Day 1: Pictures of Pope Benedict's Arrival

Fresh from the photostream....





Looks like he's energized for his visit. He almost ran down those steps!

Photopost: Washington DC baseball stadium prepares for the papal Mass

Photos taken today. I hope to be at the Mass this Thursday, with 46,000 other American Catholics.

"Workers assemble the roof structure that will cover the stage where Pope Benedict XVI will say Mass at Nationals Park April 14 in Washington, DC. US President George W. Bush will roll out the red carpet for visiting Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday during a gala day which concludes with a White House dinner in the pontiff's honor.
(AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Win Mcnamee)"
"Archbishop Donald Wuerl (L) of Archdiocese of Washington Pope (4th L) tours the Nationals Stadium."
"A crew begins to assemble a stage in the outfield for an outdoor Mass."
"Lorena Gonzalez of Silver Spring, Md., cleans the seating area in the upper deck."
... now that's a proper use for a baseball stadium. ;-)

Pictures: First look at National Shrine & CUA papal welcome banners!

Taken this afternoon!

Theological College across the street from the CUA campus.

Unfolding the large welcome banner on the National Shrine's tower.

A sample Archdiocese of Washington banner on 4th Street, across from the National Shrine.

The CUA (left) and Papal Welcome (right) banners, with National Shrine in background.

Pope Benedict XVI's papal coat of arms, posted above the National Shrine's main entrance.

The fully unfolded papal welcome banner on the National Shrine's tower. It's huge!

I've uploaded these to the AmP Flickr page, where you can find full-size versions of them.

update - I decided to add a few more:





Very nice.

Photos: Pope Benedict celebrates anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in St. Peter's square [in red!] to celebrate a Mass in memorial of the third anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death:

[Photo sources: REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (VATICAN CITY); (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)]

Santo Subito!

update: TNLM has a fine post on this Mass with plentiful pictures from the video stream.

Photopost: Exclusive images of Pope Benedict's altar being fabricated

William A. Cubbedge, who is busy being a good father to his growing family, forwarded me two exclusive photos of the papal altar being fabricated in Baltimore.

The photos originate from Ryan Mullen, the co-winner of Catholic University's design contest (click through link for photos of the winning design and explanation of the contest). Will's captions:

The first image shows the aluminum filigree being cut:

The second image shows wood for the papal altar being brought back to Washington DC:

What a wonderful depiction of the United States offering its "work of human hands" for the papal Mass!

These photos, like all exclusive images, have been uploaded to the AmP Flickr page.

update: coverage this morning from the Baltimore Sun.

Photo post: CUA prepares for the Pope to Visit

The Catholic University of America campus continues to prepare for the pope's upcoming visit on April 17th.

Two weeks ago, the daily Masses were held upstairs in the main church instead of below in the crypt church because the lighting fixtures were being updated. Pope Benedict will be praying vespers with the assembled U.S. bishops in the crypt church during his visit.

Rumor also has it that the side entrance to the Basilica of the National Shrine is having work done because the pope will be using those steps at one point.

Basically, if the Pope is going to use or see it - time for a facelift.

The CUA student-run newspaper had a somewhat acerbic comment about the construction:

"Word is, the side of the architecture building is being renovated because Pope Benedict will make his way down that alley during his visit to campus in April. The Pryz Great Room is also getting an upgrade. At this point, we would like to request that the Holy Father's route be adapted so that he also swings by some other ugly parts of campus that could use some sprucing up. In fact, let's just have him do a quick lap around the entire campus. We're sure he's up to it."

I don't quite get why the author felt the need to gloss what is otherwise an informative tid-bit with comments like "We're sure he's up to it."

Anyway, below are some photos I took showing the areas of campus that are getting attention.

These images have all been posted in their full-size versions on the AmP Flickr page.

The stairs which are being refurbishing for the pope's visit:

The same stairs viewed from below:
While I was in the neighborhood, the Basilica veiled in fog:
The exterior of the Pryzbola center, where Pope Benedict will talk to Catholic educators:
The back of the architecture building where Pope Benedict will allegedly walk:
A benefit of this path is that it gives the pope a view of the CUA law school:
I doubt the campus will be this empty on the day of the pope's visit:
... but it sure makes for a beautiful shot in the meantime.

Other posts on the pope's visit are available here. More posts in the works!

Photopost: Capuchins welcome Pope Benedict to Loreto

Most folks probably didn't know this, but Pope Benedict visited a local Loreto shrine and the Capuchin Friars while he was there. CWNews reported on it:

During his weekend visit to Loreto, Italy, on September 1-2, Pope Benedict XVI made a private visit to the famous Holy House there.

On Saturday evening, after a meeting with young people in the town's Montorso