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Friends, scholars, and former colleagues of Pope Benedict XVI gathered in the Campo Santo Teutonico in Vatican City from December. 30–31 for a two-day conference to reflect on the late pope’s life and rich theological legacy on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of his death. Touching upon a wide range of themes, from his early life to his extensive theological corpus that covered the virtues of hope and love, the liturgy, and the life of Christ, the common thread uniting his work and life was a deep Christocentrism, which was made tangible in the Eucharist. On the morning of Sunday, December 31, Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the longtime personal secretary of Pope Benedict, at the Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter. During his emotional and intimate homily, the archbishop noted that Benedict’s life was characterized by rich prayer and a deep love of the Eucharist.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256417/conference-on-pope-benedict-s-death-legacy-defined-by-love-of-christ-the-eucharist
Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong Catholic democracy activist, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to all charges leveled against him in his national security trial there. Lai, the Chinese-born founder of the anti-government newspaper Apple Daily, entered a not-guilty plea to the charges of conspiring to collude with a foreign power. The 76-year-old Lai was originally arrested in August 2020 under that year’s controversial national security law, which was passed by China’s communist-controlled government. He has been imprisoned by Chinese authorities since his arrest. Lai’s trial in Hong Kong began last month, launching what is expected to be a protracted legal exhibition capping several years of imprisonment for the embattled pro-democracy advocate. Lai faces life in prison over the charges.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256416/jimmy-lai-pleads-not-guilty-in-hong-kong-national-security-trial
Today, the Church celebrates Saint Basil the Great, one of the most distinguished Doctors of the Church and Bishop of Caesarea. He ranks after Athanasius as a defender of the Oriental Church against the heresies of the fourth century, especially Arianism, which denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ. He was a strong supporter of the Nicene Creed. Seventy-two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon described him as “the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-basil-the-great-103
The Church also celebrates Saint Gregory Nazianzen, a Doctor of the Church, born at Arianzus in Asia Minor, probably in 325, and died in 389. After his baptism at age 30, Gregory joined his friend Basil in a newly founded monastery. It was in Constantinople, where he tried to bring back Christians from Aryanism, where he began giving the great sermons on the Trinity for which he is famous.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gregory-nazianzen-107