Here’s what’s been going on across the country this week: In Vancouver, where the permanent diaconate program has only been in place for about two years, another group of candidates have started the journey towards ordained ministry. In Saskatoon, a controversial “conscientious objection” policy was passed this week by the province’s College of Physicians and ...read more

The first time I heard of Archbishop Oscar Romero was during my Grade 12 religion class. Now, religion was the last class of the day and so there was every reason to just skip it. Something that Mr. Whitebread (no kidding, that was his surname) was all too aware of, and took measures against. His ...read more

Communication and Mercy: a fruitful encounter The choice of theme this years has clearly been determined by the Celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and the Holy Father undoubtedly desired that World Communications  Day  would  provide  the  appropriate  occasion  to  reflect  on  the  deep  synergy between communication and mercy. In the Bull of Indiction ...read more

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7) Dear Young People, We have come to the last stretch of our pilgrimage to Krakow, the place where we will celebrate the 31st World Youth Day next year in the month of July. We are being guided on this long and challenging path by ...read more

There’s this great scene early in the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy unsuccessfully tries to relate to her family about an incident involving her dog Toto. After she’s brushed off with the admonishment “find yourself a place where you won’t get into any trouble” Dorothy muses to her dog Toto, “‘Some place where there isn’t ...read more

On Saturday, September 26, 2015, following Pope Francis’ mass with the religious of Philadelphia, Pope Francis met with the Hispanic community at Independence Hall for a Religious Liberty. See below for the full text of the Holy Father’s address, delivered in Spanish. (The final version will be published shortly) Address of His Holiness Pope Francis ...read more

On Saturday evening, September 26, 2015, Pope Francis attended the prayer service at the Festival of Families, hosted by the World Meeting of Families 2015. After listening to the testimonies of several families from all around the world, the Holy Father delivered the following spontaneous address. Dear brothers and sisters, dear families, Thank you to ...read more

“There is something holy about this place, something special. Here we stand on holy ground sanctified by the blood of the martyrs. Here we pray in solidarity with them. These are our Jesuit brothers who gave their lives: willingly, freely – and in love,” says Fr. Steve Leblanc, SJ – Jesuit priest at Martyrs’ Shrine ...read more

On Friday, September 25, 2015, Pope Francis arrived at Ground Zero to participate in an Interreligious Prayer to commemorate the fallen of 9/11. Please see below for the Holy Father’s prepared remarks. Interreligious Meeting Ground Zero Memorial, New York Friday, 25 September 2015 Dear Friends, I feel many different emotions standing here at Ground Zero, ...read more

Follow along with the program of for the Multi-Religious Gathering with Pope Francis at Ground Zero. A Witness to Peace: A Multi-Religious Gathering with Pope Francis [At the National September 11th Memorial and Museum: September 25, 2015, 11:30 am—12:45 pm.] Entrance of the Holy Father Instrumental music is played as the Holy Father enters Foundation Hall. ...read more