Blessed John Paul II Blessed Pope John Paul II founded World Youth Day in 1984. He is considered the Pope of the Youth because he invited young people to recognize their special mission in the Church. During his enduring pontificate, he helped to guide Christians in their understanding of the Second Vatican Council. Through his ...read more

On the morning of February 11th I awoke to the news that Pope Benedict XVI had resigned. I remember a close friend and I discussing a vital revelation: we would have a new Pope for Rio 2013! Amazing to think that the new Pope would hail from the “end of the earth” and that millions ...read more

Blessed Isidore Bakanja Blessed Isidore Bakanja was born around 1887 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then the Belgian Congo). He was baptized on 15 August 1909 at eighteen years of age through the ministry of Cistercian missionaries. Isidore was a very devout convert and catechist. He had a great love for the Blessed Virgin ...read more

Blessed Frederick Ozanam Blessed Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam was born in Milan, Italy on April 23, 1813. He grew up in a family atmosphere of deep charity, through the example of his parents. In love with existential and spiritual issues, he studied philosophy, where he found arguments supporting the social doctrine of the Catholic faith. He died ...read more

Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro sprinkles holy water during a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction at the site where Pope Francis is expected to celebrate Mass during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. To find out more about this year’s World Youth Day in Rio de Janiero, Brazil visit ...read more

St. Andrew Kim and companions Fr. Andrew Kim was the first native priest in Korea, the son of converts. In fact, Andrew Kim’s father was martyred during the persecution of 1839 and was beatified in 1925. During the early 18th century Christianity was suppressed and heavily persecuted in Korea, and Catholics had to covertly practice ...read more

Confetti is thrown as a priest holds an image of Our Lady of Aparecida during a Mass in Brazil’s Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida on Oct. 11. Since 1717, when three local men fished an image of Mary from the Paraiba River, Aparecida has been a pilgrimage destination. More than ...read more

Pilgrims participate in candlelight procession in the streets around Our Lady of Fatima shrine in Belem, Brazil. Brazilians have been honoring Mary with this annual procession since 1966. Mary appeared to three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, in 1917 in central Portugal. To find out more about this ...read more

Late yesterday afternoon, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops received the following message from the Apostolic Nunciature. It is a message from the Holy Father to the people of Lac-Mégantic. Upon learning of the tragic train derailment at Lac-Mégantic, with its many victims of whom a large number is still unaccounted for, His Holiness Pope ...read more

On Monday, July 8, Pope Francis visited the Italian island of Lampedusa off the coast of Tunisia, in solidarity with the many African migrants who have sought refuge there and in remembrance of those who have lost their lives in the attempt. The following is the homily of the Holy Father at an open air ...read more