There is exciting news coming from Rio. The venues for the main events were made public today. The opening mass, the Papal welcoming ceremony and the way of the cross will be held at Copacabana beach, one of the most famous sites of that Brazilian city. The announcement was made public today at a press ...read more

Salt + Light’s latest film, Across the Divide, premiered Sunday night in Vancouver. Archbishop Michael Miller joined Br. Jack Curran of Bethlehem University and Carl Hetu, national director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association – Canada, and Berlanty Azzam, one of the students whose story is featured in the film, for a panel discussion ...read more

Milan, Italy – Our fifth and last day in Milan for the VII World Meeting of Families was marked this morning with thanksgiving and reverence as we participated in Sunday Mass with Pope Benedict XVII.   As we made our way back toward the Bresso Airport grounds this morning, André and I reflected on the “Feast ...read more

This is Pope Benedict’s homily at the closing mass of the VII World Meeting of Families in Milan. Dear Brothers and Sisters, It is a time of great joy and communion that we are experiencing this morning, as we celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice: a great gathering, in union with the Successor of Peter, consisting of ...read more

Our intrepid reporters, Marie and Andre Brunet of Winnipeg, bring us another look at what’s going on in Milan during the VII World Meeting of Families. Milan, Italy –  We are writing this from the Piazza del Duomo (the Milan Cathedral Square), where we await with large crowds and great anticipation the arrival of the ...read more

The following is the unofficial translation of Pope Benedict XVI’s talk to the men and women religious of the Archdiocese of Milan during his visit to the city for the VII World Meeting of Families. We have gathered in prayer, answering the invitation of the Ambrosian hymn for the Third Hour: “It is the third ...read more

The Church preaches social teaching, but is the world listening? Explore the Church’s role at the United Nations with Matthew Harrison and Kris Dmytrenko, as they reflect on a New York conference that examines the Holy See Mission to the UN. ...read more

In anticipation of the world premiere of “Across the Divide” this Sunday, June 3 in Vancouver, the creators take you behind-the-scenes of the making of the new S+L documentary. Yesterday on the blog, we heard from Kris Dmytrenko, the writer and one of the co-directors. Today we meet the editor and second co-director, Richard Valenti, ...read more

Can a Catholic university bring peace to the Holy Land? The upcoming Salt + Light documentary Across the Divide tells the story of Bethlehem University and its students. They include Berlanty Azzam, who was deported to Gaza as she tried to complete her degree. Perspectives host Pedro Guevara-Mann speaks with Berlanty, along with the writer ...read more

Left to right: Marie Brunet, Pierluigi Molla, Andre Brunet after presentations in Varese, Italy during the VII World Meeting of Families. Varese, Italy – On our  second full day of the VII World Meeting of Families, we spent the afternoon outside of Milan, in the town of Varese. To our great surprise, this trip outside ...read more