Pope John Paul II, successor are top stories, newsmakers of 2005

Published: 2005-12-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic editors voted the death of Pope John Paul II as the top religious news story of 2005, with the related story of the election of Pope Benedict XVI coming in second and the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina third. Pope John Paul, who was chosen as the top newsmaker more often than anyone else in the past 26 years, again took the top spot, followed closely by his successor, Pope Benedict. The evacuees of Hurricane Katrina were third. The poll was the 44th annual survey of Catholic News Service client newspapers. This year's ballots were distributed Dec. 5 and the deadline for returns was Dec. 13. When the editors' poll was first conducted in 1962, the overwhelming choice for top story was the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Last year, editors chose the controversy surrounding Catholics and politics as the top religious story of the year and Pope John Paul as the top newsmaker.

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