On October 31, 2016, the Joint Ecumenical Prayer Service took place in the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund. Upon His arrival in the Cathedral, Pope Francis was welcomed by the Primate of the Church of Sweden, Archbishop Antje Jackelen, and the Catholic Bishop of Stockholm, S.E. Mons. Anders Arborelius, both of whom accompanied the Holy Father in ...read more

During the Joint Ecumenical Prayer Service in the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund, Sweden, Pope Francis and Bishop Munib Yunan, President of the Lutheran World Federation, signed the Joint Declaration. The text is found below: Lund, 31 October 2016 «Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself ...read more

“Nobody writes better about the lives of the saints than Robert Ellsberg,” according to spiritual writer Ron Rolheiser.  He’s not alone.  Robert Ellsberg, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Orbis Books, has compiled an eclectic cloud of witnesses in his new book “Blessed Among Us: Day to Day with Saintly Witnesses,” published by Liturgical Press. What’s most ...read more

At the canonization mass for Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, Pope Francis spoke of the latter with these words: “In his own service to the People of God, John Paul II was the pope of the family. We are now in the process of journeying with families towards the Synod on the family. ...read more

After announcing 13 new cardinals two weeks ago, the Pope presided over the canonization mass of seven blessed on Sunday, October 16, 2016, in front of 80,000 people, who filled St. Peter’s Square for the occasion. Speaking of the new saints, during his homily, the pontiff said the saints are men and women who enter fully into the ...read more

Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Square, before a crowd of nearly 80,000 people, Pope Francis presided over Holy Mass for the canonization of seven new Saints. José Sánchez del Río (Mexico); Salomon Leclercq(France); José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero (Argentina); Manuel González García (Spain); Lodovico Pavoni (Italy); Alfonso Maria Fusco (Italy) and Elizabeth of the Trinity (France). Below ...read more

Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism. Airing on Salt+Light! ...read more

At 17:30, Pope Francis traveled by car to the “Heydar Aliyev” Mosque in Baku for the private meeting with the Sheikh of Caucasus Muslims, Allahshukur Pashazadeh. Upon arrival at 17.45, the Pope was greeted at the entrance of the Mosque by the Sheikh who accompanied him into the building. At the “Mihrab” (semicircular niche in ...read more

This afternoon, the Holy Father Francis traveled by car to the Presidential Palace at Ganjlik for the official protocol ceremony of welcome. Upon arrival at 15.30, the Pope was welcomed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Heydar Aliyev at the entrance of the courtyard of the palace. After playing of the ...read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday at the Salesian centre in Baku, the central event of his 10-hour visit to Azerbaijan. The Pope’s homily, delivered to the congregation gathered in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, centred on the Lord’s call for Christian’s to live in faith and in service. Below, please find the official ...read more