It seems that every year we have the same discussion around this time: what is the real meaning of Christmas? and let’s keep Christ in Christmas. There are even campaigns to boycott department stores that refuse to acknowledge the “reason for the season.” It’s so easy to jump onto that band wagon. To add to this, “Christmas” starts ...read more

The Vatican announced the themes for the next World Youth Days to culminate at the International World Youth Day in Panama in 2019. They are taken from the Gospel of Luke and are inspired by the three theological virtues of faith, charity and hope. A new website for Peter’s Pence was launched today, making it ...read more

Away from the limelight, Pope Francis spent one Friday a month, over the course of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, putting into practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Locations were never announced beforehand and so in the past year, he surprised the sick and the elderly, retired priests, women who have been abused, ...read more

At 10:00 this morning, the Solemnity of Christ the King, in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis celebrated the closing Mass of the Holy Year of Mercy, with the new Cardinals, with the College of Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Priests. At the beginning of Mass, the Holy Father led the Rite of closing of the Holy ...read more

In light of the Consistory this weekend, I was going to deacon-struct Cardinals, but seeing as Fr. Rosica wrote a wonderful Reflection on the Role of Cardinals in the Church on Tuesday, I figured I could do something a bit different. Yesterday, Pope Francis made 17 new Cardinals. Thirteen of them will be Cardinal-electors, eligible ...read more

Emilie Callan reflects on the Pope's visit Jubilee of Prisoners in 2016, and how he has a special place in his heart for those who are incarcerated. ...read more

November 13, 2016 St. Peter’s Basilica For you… the sun of justice shall rise, with healing in its wings” (Mal 4:2). The words of the Prophet Malachi, which we heard in the first reading, shed light on today’s Jubilee. They come to us from the last page of the last Old Testament prophet. They are ...read more

There are only ten days left before the conclusion of this Year of Mercy. On November 20th, the last Sunday of the liturgical year and the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, Pope Francis will close the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica. This Sunday, November 13, all the other Holy Doors across ...read more

Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Prisoners in St Peter’s Basilica, telling those present, “by learning from past mistakes, you can open a new chapter of your lives.” Below, find the full text of his address: The message that God’s word wants to bring us today is surely that of hope. ...read more

Recently I had a conversation which brought up the following question: When we are voting at a political election, as Catholics, is there a guide or principles that we should follow? The person asking the question had been told that there is a list of ‘non-negotiable’ principles that Catholics should follow when voting. I may ...read more