This pope governed the Church under Marcus Aurelius from 155 to 166. He suffered so much for the faith that, although he did not shed his blood, he was given the title of martyr.
Lecture night (last week)
It was already a week ago and I've neglected to make any mention of a rather interesting lecture that took place here last Thursday (10 April). The guest lecturer was the retired president of the constitutional court of Austria, and present professor of constitutional law at the University of Vienna. The topic: Religion and the State in Austria.
The situation of the Church in Austria is one of separation from the state, but not as strict a separation as is the case in France (his example - I suspect the USA is similar to France in this regard). For example, religion classes are still part of the public school curriculum, and catholic theological faculties at public universities are required to have the approval of the Church. Austria, also unlike France (and the USA) has a concordat (treaty) with the Holy See.
Speaking of lectures at the ITI
A certain Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was invited to give a lecture here some 5 years ago or so. Unfortunately he had to graciously decline the invitation because the pope (John Paul II) happened to have plans already to be out of Rome that same weekend. Why did this prevent the good Cardinal from coming to the ITI? It seems that it was a point of policy that these two would not both leave Rome at the same time. Something about when the cats are away...
Turns out that this is in point of fact the way that legislation permitting female altar boys was slipped through: the Shepherd and his German sheepdog were both out of town and there was no undoing the damage afterwords (forgive the change of metaphor).
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