For the World Youth Day pilgrim, being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of fellow Catholics for Mass will be a taste of Heaven. If one picks up an intestinal illness, however, the crowded Cuatro Vientos air base (the expansive site of the vigil and closing Mass), will provide a very different experience. With that in ...read more

Today, CNS Rome Correspondent Carol Glatz tells us about Pope Benedict XVI’s General Audience on the importance of finding times and places for silence, and about how silence naturally leads to prayer. ...read more

Courtesy of the Jesuits in English Canada, S+L reprints the following reflection by Gerard Ryan, S.J., a Jesuit scholastic and recently ordained deacon. From July 27-31, Canadian Jesuits gathered in Midland, Ontario for the 2011 Jesuit Congress. They were joined this year by Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., the Superior General of the Society of Jesus. ...read more

The Church is mobilizing to help Eastern Africa, which continues to face its worst famine since the 1950s. Severe drought and years of conflict have resulted in failed crops and acute shortages in food and water. More than 10 million face starvation. The famine has triggered a mass movement of refugees, particularly from Somalia to ...read more

Vatican and WYD launch an invitation system to get people to the event If the success of recent new social media networks is any indication, there is nothing more powerful than receiving an invitation to use a new product or attend an event. The Vatican figured that out, too. Through the Vatican’s social media website ...read more

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following release regarding WYD participants: Firm in the Faith! [singlepic id=80 w=320 h=240 float=right] More than 500,000 young pilgrims from all over the world, including 6,000 from Canada, are expected in Madrid, Spain, to participate in the 26th World Youth Day (WYD). After Sydney in 2008 and ...read more

The Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruíz Gallardón, has issued his third proclamation in these eight years at the head of the Madrid City Council, this time it is addressed to all Madrilenians on the occasion of the upcoming celebration for World Youth Day (WYD), to be held in the Spanish capital from August 16 to ...read more

You can now find out stats and figures from each country participating in WYD. Just follow this link to the official WYD website and use the interactive map. The WYD Madrid National committee reports that there are currently 420.508 registered participants for the 6-day event. Many of these (133.961) will also be participating in the ...read more

Most Reverend Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, delivered the following remarks at the State Dinner of the 129th Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention on August 2nd. [singlepic id=79 w=320 h=240 float=right]Bonsoir! Salutations chaleureuses de Québec et du Canada! I must say it is very impressive for me to be here with you for the first time. ...read more

Bishop Pierre Morissette, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, addressed the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention on August 3rd. [singlepic id=78 w=320 h=240 float=right]I am attending this convention, first and foremost, to reiterate our gratitude for and as a sign of our recognition of the Knights of Columbus of Canada, of their Supreme ...read more