BLOG: Matthew Harrison
I remember speaking to Fr. David or Fr. Martin of The Priests sometime last year about the 2012 Eucharistic Congress that would be held in Ireland.  I was wondering out loud if Pope Benedict might visit the Emerald Isle for the event, and if the The Priests might be participating in some capacity.  They were ...read more
Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation will launch three media projects directly linked to Brother André, the Canadian hero who will be proclaimed a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 17 at the Vatican. The new projects include French and English-language documentaries as well as the broadcast of a daily Mass in French from ...read more
The Successor of St. Peter visited the residents of St. Peter today — a home for the elderly run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in the London borough of Lambeth. The Pope greeted some of the elderly and offered a beautiful address. He noted that “care for the elderly should be considered not ...read more
Five survivors of clergy sex abuse met with Pope Benedict on Saturday. The meeting lasted between 30 and 40 minutes. The chairman of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission Bill Kilgallon says he spoke to the victims before hand and said they were “understandably quite emotional.” Vatican Press office director Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, described the ...read more
Pope Benedict is unable to visit Wales, but he’s sending a greeting via our Blessed Mother The Holy Father lit a candle at the statue of Our Lady of Cardigan, or Our Lady of the Taper, which was at St. Paul’s side chapel in Westminster Cathedral.  Our Lady is honoured under that name in Wales.  ...read more
It was an appropriate beginning to evening prayer at Westminster Abbey. The procession featured three banners — one of St. George, one of St. Edward the Confessor, and one of St. Peter. St. George is the patron of England, a beloved saint for Anglicans.  St. Peter, of course is beloved by Catholics.  St. Edward the ...read more
Concern for Christians in the Middle East.  Fighting world hunger and disease.  Continuing theological dialogue. These were just three of the topics discussed in the private meeting between Pope Benedict and Archbishop Rowan Williams. Read more on the closed door meeting at Lambeth Palace from a joint communiqué released Friday afternoon: Fifty years after the ...read more
A warm embrace. That was how Pope Benedict was greeted as he met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.  It was as if His Grace flew to meet the Holy Father as he stepped out of his car, arriving at the Archbishop’s residence, Lambeth Palace. The Holy Father emphasized the importance of praying ...read more
Pope Benedict met with leaders of other religions this morning in London. Before speaking, Chief Rabbi of London Lord Jonathan Sacks gave an address, as did the director of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts Dr. Khaled Azzam.  Rabbi Sacks offered a great comment noting that we live in an “information saturated” but “wisdom starved ...read more
Pope Benedict XVI donned a specially designed Papal tartan over his shoulders as he traveled from Holyroodhouse Palace to the Archbishop of Edinburgh’s residence.  His route was part of a St. Ninian Day parade; the feast of the 5th century Bishop is celebrated today in Scotland. The tartan itself has great symbolism.  The white line ...read more