On Saturday, March 16, Pope Francis gathered thousands of journalists and media agencies from nearly 82 countries inside the Paul VI Audience Hall. In his address, the Holy Father spoke of how the role of mass media continues to grow and how it is indispensable for telling the stories of contemporary society. Published below is ...read more

Here’s a reflection I wrote on August 26, 2008 on the catechesis given by Cardinal Mario Bergoglio (now, Pope Francis) at the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City. Seems incredible that he is now the Pope! To read Cardinal Bergoglio’s Catechesis text, visit the Vatican website. This may come out sounding a bit complicated, ...read more

The Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), has sent an immediate letter of congratulations to Pope Francis on the day of his election as pastor of the Universal Church. Below find the full text of his letter: His Holiness Pope Francis Vatican City Most ...read more

Pope Francis: What does this mean for the Catholic Church in Canada and beyond? We have first reactions from Ottawa’s own Archbishop Terrence Prendergast — who, like Francis, is a Jesuit — plus Bishop William McGrattan and Dr. Moira McQueen. Don’t miss this edition of “Perspectives Conclave Special” with Kris Dmytrenko. ...read more

Near the end of last year I wrote about the attitude of openness and adaptation to the modern world which permeated the ecclesiology of John XXIII and Paul VI, and found concrete expression at Vatican II and in the creation of the permanent Synod of Bishops. (Read it here) From there we now jump forward ...read more

Sebastian Gomes attended the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization in Rome this past October as a correspondent for Salt + Light.  In this first of three articles, he discusses the change in mentality at Vatican II to one of openness and adaptation. During the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization for the ...read more

The members of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization have recommend the creation of church body to promote religious freedom. The recommendation was one of the propositions Synod members would present to Pope Benedict XVI. The Synod concluded on Sunday with a mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s Basilica. On ...read more

The full text of Pope Beendict XVI’s homily at the Mass concluding the XIII Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelization. Dear Brother Bishops, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Brothers and Sisters, The miracle of the healing of blind Bartimaeus comes at a significant point in the structure of Saint Mark’s ...read more

On today’s edition of Inside the Synod we speak to Toronto’s own Sr. Gil Goulding and take you into the Vatican Gardens. ...read more

Photo courtesy of Servizio Fotografico of l’Osservatore Romano Cheridan Sanders and Sebastian Gomes receiving communion from Pope Benedict XVI at the Mass celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the beginning of the Year of Faith – October 11, 2012 Cheridan Sanders and Sebastian Gomes are the hosts of Salt + Light’s ...read more