December 24, 2014 At 9:30 p.m. Rome time, Pope Francis presides at the Christmas Midnight Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. The full text of his homily is found below. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land ...read more

“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas……” Indeed, the shopping malls and streets of Toronto are dressed in the “holiday” style. Christmas trees, wreaths, candles, etc.. And yes! It is not easy to take a photo with Santa Claus because of the lineup. Yet it is ...read more

  Although it stands tall next to the obelisk in the middle of St. Peter’s Square every year, the Vatican’s Christmas tree is relatively new addition to the Holy See’s yuletide traditions. St. John Paul II introduced the Christmas Tree to St. Peter’s square in the early 80s. Why was the piazza bereft of a ...read more

  This photo was taken at our 2014 Staff Christmas Celebration on Friday evening, December 19, 2014 in the chapel of the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre in Toronto. Here are our prayers for you this Christmas: To the Child of Bethlehem Prayer of St. John XXIII O sweet Child of Bethlehem, grant that we may ...read more

Flash Mob: The U.S. Air Force Band at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington Jesus is truly the reason and joy for the season! Starting with a single cellist on the floor of the National Air and Space Museum’s “Milestones of Flight” gallery, and swelling to 120 musicians, The U.S. Air Force Band exhilarated museum visitors ...read more

This post was written by Richard Valenti, one of our editors at Salt +Light. He has been with S+L since the beginning. He and his wife, former S+L producer Mary Rose Bacani, welcomed their second child on December 22, 2013, one year ago today. Read the story of the birth of Gianna Valenti below: It ...read more

By Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada We are just at the threshold of Christmas, a great event which – if we welcome it – is capable of changing our lives. A story by Tolstoy which I learned and owe to Pope Benedict XVI helps me to share the light and life that springs from ...read more

I could not speak about the Ordained life without speaking about the two questions that most people have about the priesthood: The ordination of women and celibacy. Some people will ask why women are not qualified to be priests. The reality is that it’s not about qualifications. No one is really qualified to be a ...read more

On Christmas Eve Pope Francis leads the church in celebrating the birth of Christ with Mass at The Vatican. S+L brings you full coverage with English commentary. Wednesday, Dec 24 3:30 pm ET / 12:30pm PT ...read more

Eight people were appointed to the Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors this week, including an abuse survivor. With the appointments the commission is now fully formed and set to begin working in early February. The new members come from different parts of the world and have expertise in some aspect related to sexual ...read more