In today’s snapshot of Pope Benedict’s papacy we remember his meeting with children on March 24, 2012 in Peace Square, Guanajuato, Mexico. A joyous occasion marked with tremendous significance for the Church, in Mexico, and around the world. CNS photo/Paul Haring ...read more

News reports about Pope Benedict’s health invariably mention that he has taken on a lighter schedule over the past several months. This is only partly true. While it’s indisputable that the Pope made only two international trips in 2012 — to Mexico and Cuba in March, and Lebanon in September — his daily schedule could ...read more

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 When this story broke, I started receiving texts from all my friends, many of them far from church-minded, asking what this meant. I suppose in a world ...read more

For one last time before retirement, Benedict XVI is ushering the Church into Lent. Today the Holy Father will preside at mass to mark Ash Wednesday, during which he will bless and distribute ashes to the penitent faithful. Unlike past years, the liturgy will not be held at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, southeast of ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy includes many, many special moments. So we’ve decided to share some of our favourite moments in a series of blogs entitled, Snapshots of Pope Benedict. As we approach February 28th- the date of his official resignation- we remember and give thanks for Pope Benedict’s faithful service, leadership and tender humanity. We ...read more

Tonight on Perspectives: The Church prepares for the last days of Pope Benedict’s pontificate and we bring you the reaction from one of the Cardinals at the consistory yesterday. ...read more

You see, the Catholic Church has extraordinary soap: the gospel, the sacraments, prayer. The gospel read and lived; the sacraments celebrated in the right way; prayer well used, would be a marvellous soap, capable of making us all saints. We are not all saints, because we have not used this soap enough. Let us try ...read more

Christian pilgrims carry palm branches during the traditional Palm Sunday procession in 2012 on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. Following a directive from the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, within two years all Eastern Catholics and the Latin diocese in the Holy Land will officially adopt the ...read more

Today we had the great pleasure to receive Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria. He is pictured here with producers Sebastian Gomes, Charles Le Bourgeois and CEO Father Thomas Rosica, CSB. Photo credit: Joshua Lanzarini ...read more

As I begin writing this,  I can say that my preparation for an early autumn 2013 profession of perpetual vows and ordination to the diaconate has officially begun, with the blessing of my religious Congregation, the Basilian Fathers. My Basilian journey, which began with my Associate year in 2007-2008, and the coming months of preparation ...read more