https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed When Kurt and Anna-Maria Spennesberger heard the news about former pope Benedict XVI's death, they immediately got into their car and drove 200 kilometres to the former pontiff's southern German birth town Marktl. https://www.thelocal.de/20230101/black-ribbons-candles-ex-pope-benedicts-german-home-region-in-mourning Sun, 01 Jan 2023 11:27:52 +0100 black-ribbons-candles-ex-pope-benedicts-german-home-region-in-mourning Former pope Benedict XVI will return to the Vatican on Monday from Germany, where he is visiting his sick brother, the Regensburg bishopric said. https://www.thelocal.de/20200621/former-pope-benedict-to-return-to-the-vatican-after-surprise-bavaria-visit Sun, 21 Jun 2020 17:26:59 +0200 former-pope-benedict-to-return-to-the-vatican-after-surprise-bavaria-visit In the coming 12 months, hundreds of events will take place to commemorate the reformer Martin Luther, hoping to bring the two Christian Churches closer together. https://www.thelocal.de/20161031/lutheran-church-begins-reformation-anniversary-year Mon, 31 Oct 2016 15:29:28 +0100 lutheran-church-begins-reformation-anniversary-year Retired pope Benedict XVI fell in love during his student days in Germany and struggled with the idea of celibacy, said the author of a new book to be published Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20160908/ex-pope-benedict-was-in-love-as-young-man Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:41:44 +0200 ex-pope-benedict-was-in-love-as-young-man Thousands of exhausted refugees received a hero's welcome Sunday as they streamed into Germany and other European nations, but Austria warned the emergency measures are only "temporary" as the EU struggles to establish a united response to the crisis. https://www.thelocal.de/20150907/over-10000-refugees-arrive-in-one-weekend Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:19:56 +0200 over-10000-refugees-arrive-in-one-weekend Cardinal Reinhard Marx, head of the Catholic Church in Germany, has warned his flock not to push the Church to go against its traditional teaching about homosexuality and divorce after they called for change. https://www.thelocal.de/20150515/church-lags-faithful-over-gay-couples-divorce Fri, 15 May 2015 16:41:14 +0200 church-lags-faithful-over-gay-couples-divorce German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a visit to the Vatican Saturday met with Pope Francis and discussed efforts to end the bloody conflict in Ukraine. https://www.thelocal.de/20150221/merkel-and-pope-francis-discuss-ukraine-crisis Sat, 21 Feb 2015 18:35:07 +0100 merkel-and-pope-francis-discuss-ukraine-crisis The German Children Protection Society (DKSB) has condemned remarks by Pope Francis after the Catholic leader said it was okay to hit children as long as their dignity remained intact. https://www.thelocal.de/20150206/popes Fri, 06 Feb 2015 13:47:33 +0100 popes The Association of German Rabbit Breeders (ZDRK) said on Tuesday that Pope Francis' injunction to Catholics not to breed "like rabbits" was inaccurate. https://www.thelocal.de/20150120/breeders-say-popes-rabbits-comment-unfair Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:57:00 +0100 breeders-say-popes-rabbits-comment-unfair A member of activist group Femen will stand before a court in Cologne on Wednesday after jumping topless onto the altar of the city's famous cathedral. https://www.thelocal.de/20141203/topless-cathedral-protest-gets-day-in-court Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:00:00 +0100 topless-cathedral-protest-gets-day-in-court The Vatican on Friday said the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, who has made controversial comments about Muslims, was stepping down from his duties as archbishop after reaching retirement age. https://www.thelocal.de/20140228/controversial-cardinal Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:56:00 +0100 controversial-cardinal A controversial bishop has found sanctuary in a Bavarian monastery after being suspended indefinitely by Pope Francis last week. https://www.thelocal.de/20131031/suspended-bling-bishop-takes-refuge-in-abbey Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:59:00 +0100 suspended-bling-bishop-takes-refuge-in-abbey A big-spending Catholic bishop was called before Pope Francis on Monday, as speculation grows over whether he will be forced to resign for his high-roller lifestyle. https://www.thelocal.de/20131021/52501 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 16:02:00 +0200 52501 An outspoken German TV presenter said he was "speechless" with fury after he claimed Facebook censored his status updates criticising the social values of the Catholic church and Pope Francis himself. https://www.thelocal.de/20130319/48623 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:22:00 +0100 48623 Germany's political leaders and Catholic faithful voiced confidence in the Church's new pontiff on Thursday, although some German bishops admitted they were surprised by the conclave's decision to pick Pope Francis. https://www.thelocal.de/20130314/48531 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:31:00 +0100 48531 Berlin's Roman Catholic Archdiocese has condemned a German charlatan for masquerading as a bishop and sneaking into the Vatican to fraternize with cardinals as they prepare to choose a new pope. https://www.thelocal.de/20130305/48347 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:11:00 +0100 48347 Catholics all over Germany are marking Benedict XVI's last day as pope with an outpouring of national pride, including some vowing that “Bavaria is still the pope.” Meanwhile, the country's clergy has rallied behind the outgoing pontiff. https://www.thelocal.de/20130228/48255 Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:49:00 +0100 48255 Ben Knight brings you the The Local's Weekly News Podcast, featuring a weary pope, horsey lasagne, and the return of one famous polar bear (definitely not stuffed). https://www.thelocal.de/20130215/47979 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:47:00 +0100 47979 Mercedes-Benz presented Pope Benedict XVI with a sleek, ecologically-friendly "Popemobile" on Friday which has been vamped up with the latest gadgets for maximum comfort, the Vatican said. https://www.thelocal.de/20121208/46645 Sat, 08 Dec 2012 13:26:00 +0100 46645 A Catholic bishop has called for a blasphemy law in Germany, saying all religions deserved legal protection from attack in order to preserve human dignity. https://www.thelocal.de/20120802/44127 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 16:50:00 +0200 44127