BLOG: Pope Francis,Vatican Connections
By Carl Hétu, Canadian National Director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. With ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, the war in eastern Ukraine that started over two years ago is being overlooked by Western media. Many Canadians that I have spoken with recently have shared their assumptions that things are back to normal and that the ...read more
On Friday, May 6, in the Sala Regia of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the International Charlemagne Prize in 2016 was awarded to His Holiness Pope Francis. In the presence of numerous authorities, the ceremony was introduced by a speech by the Mayor of Aachen, Mr. Marcel Philipp. The Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Association ...read more
At 6:00 pm on the evening of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord at the Vatican, Pope Francis presided in the Vatican Basilica at the Prayer vigil for all those in need of consolation. The vigil began with three testimonies alternated with biblical readings, and the lighting of a candle each time before the shrine of ...read more
World Communications Day Where is Christ in Communication? Written by Dr. Jennifer Reid Adjunct Professor, University of St. Michael’s College This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the inauguration of World Communications Day by the Catholic Church. The past fifty years have brought radical changes in the way we communicate. Every change has created new challenges for ...read more
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 50th World Communications Day Communications and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Holy Year of Mercy invites all of us to reflect on the relationship between communication and mercy. The Church, in union with Christ, the living incarnation of the Father of Mercies, is ...read more
Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For March 2016, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Respect for Women – That in every country of the world, women may be honored.  Holy Rosary – That families, communities and groups may pray the Holy Rosary for evangelization and peace.  Daily Offering ...read more
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster & President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has issued a Pastoral Letter that was read in all parishes on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 1, 2016, on the Pope’s Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, the Joy of Love. In the letter, the Cardinal thanks God ...read more
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, and the Secretary for Pastoral Ministry and Social Concerns, Susan Timoney, STD, sit down to discuss Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” (On Love in the Family). See the video below: — (CNS photo/Paul Haring) ...read more
On Sunday, April 24, 2016, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Young People. Read below for the full text of his Homily: St. Peter’s Square – Sunday April 24, 2016 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”  Dear young friends, what an enormous ...read more
While Pope Francis has been personally helping Syrian refugees relocate to Europe, a joint Catholic – Russian Orthodox delegation visited Lebanon and Syria. The delegation identified ways the two churches can work together to help Syrians. Officials from the Catholic aid agency Aid to the Church in Need and officials from the Moscow patriarchate of ...read more