The Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J., Archbishop of Ottawa, on today’s publication and distribution of the encyclical letter of faith entitled “Lumen Fidei” – The Light of Faith, made the following statement: “It is with great joy that I welcome Pope Francis’ first encyclical. His reflections on faith are in continuity with all that the ...read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters, This celebration has a very beautiful name: “Evangelium Vitae”, the Gospel of Life. In this Eucharist, in the Year of Faith, let us thank the Lord for the gift of life in all its forms, and at the same time let us proclaim the Gospel of Life.  On the basis of ...read more

This weekend, Catholics are gathering at the Vatican to celebrate John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae. Details about the festivities, titled “Believing May They Have Life”, were revealed at a press conference on May 28. “We have given it this name to testify to the grand theme that revolves around the Church’s commitment to the ...read more

On Friday Pope Francis surprised a huge audience of young students from Jesuit schools in Italy and Albania  by setting aside a prepared five-page script and engaging in a question and answer session with his audience in the Paul VI hall.  The assembly consisted of over 9000 students, teachers and staff of Jesuit grade schools ...read more

This evening in Rome, Pope Francis addressed a group of pilgrims from the Italian diocese of Bergamo in St Peter’s Basilica, where they had gathered to mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of one of their most illustrious sons, Blessed Pope John XXIII. The following is Vatican Radio’s English translation of the Holy Father’s ...read more

This Sunday, Pope Francis will join millions for an hour of prayer with the Blessed Sacrament. The initiative, called Worldwide Eucharistic Adoration, is part of the festivities of the Year of Faith invoked by Benedict XVI. In sync with St. Peter’s Basilica, where Pope Francis will be present, parishes around the world will hold their ...read more

“In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are ...read more

On Saturday, May 18, 2013 Pope Francis celebrated the Pentecost Vigil in St. Peter’s Square with 200,000 representatives from the different ecclesial movements.  During the celebration, the Pope discussed 1) his faith journey, 2) the new challenges of evangelization, 3) becoming a church for the poor, and 4) Christian witness.  Together they comprise what is arguably ...read more

On Saturday, May 18, Pope Francis celebrated the vigil of the feast of Pentecost at St. Peter’s Square with members of New Movements. Aside from leading a prayer service, the Holy Father also took part in a question and answer session with members of these movements. Below is a report from Vatican Radio about that ...read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today we contemplate and re-live in the liturgy the outpouring of the Holy Spirit sent by the risen Christ upon his Church; an event of grace which filled the Upper Room in Jerusalem and then spread throughout the world. But what happened on that day, so distant from us and yet ...read more