Refugees and the Elderly Are The Outcasts of Society Pope Francis on Sunday turned his attention to the dramatic predicament of migrants and refugees who not always find a welcome, but often become victims of human trafficking and slave labour. Speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, the Pope ...read more

By The Rev. Dr. Karen A. Hamilton, General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches. Ah, the anticipation builds…. Some of us are anticipating that rustle of tissue paper and scrabble to untie ribbon that is Christmas morning. Some of us are anticipating the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy that is the reality of the ...read more

2013 has come to an end and so it’s time for our year-end-review. What are the highlights of this past year? What were the top news stories? What stands out the most in your mind? What’s your favourite Pope Francis moment? Join Deacon Pedro and our panel of S+L Producers, Cheridan, Alicia and Sebastian as ...read more

Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi Message on Christmas Day, 2013: Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favours (Lk 2:14) Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, Happy Christmas! I take up the song of the angels who appeared to the shepherds in Bethlehem ...read more

Homily of His Holiness Pope FrancisChristmas Midnight Mass25 December 2013 1. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:1).This prophecy of Isaiah never ceases to touch us, especially when we hear it proclaimed in the liturgy of Christmas Night. This is not simply an emotional or sentimental matter. It moves ...read more

Pope Francis is gearing up for his first Christmas. Pope Francis paid an early Christmas visit to his predecessor, Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI, on Monday afternoon in the monastery Mater Ecclesia in the Vatican gardens. The two warmly greeted each other and prayed briefly in Benedict’s chapel. They had a private conversation and exchanged Christmas wishes. Pope ...read more

Pope Francis issued his Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia on Saturday. In his message, the Pope expressed the three hallmarks of a Curial official: professionalism, service and holiness of life. He urged the Curia to be “conscientious objectors to gossip” and expressed his gratitude for the dedicated service of the retiring members of the ...read more

  Watch Vatican Connections LIVE on Salt and Light at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT If  the year-in-review articles, videos and talk show segments are anything to go by, 2013 will be remembered not as the year Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy, but the year Pope Francis was elected as his successor. From the moment ...read more

The following letter from the Superior General of the Society of Jesus was posted on the order’s website.in reaction to the canonization of Peter Faber. On Tuesday December 17 Pope Francis enrolled Peter Faber, SJ in the catalog of saints, performing what is known as an Equivalent Canonization.  Peter Faber was one of the companions ...read more

Today is Pope Francis’ 77th Birthday. He has already had several Birthday celebrations over the past few days. The children from the St. Martha Pediatric Dispensary presented him with a birthday cake on Saturday (complete with lit candles). Sunday, before the Angelus, the faithful gathered at St. Peter’s sang Happy Birthday to the pope. This ...read more