By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A deadly militant siege of a Catholic cathedral in Baghdad, Iraq, was a “savage” act of “absurd violence,” Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope urged international and national authorities and all people of good will to work together to end the “heinous episodes of violence ...read more

A Synod convoked to Restore Order in the Tower of Babel The Synod of Bishops for the Middle East was convoked to give hope not only to the Catholic Churches of the Middle East, but to all the peoples of the Middle East: Christians, Muslims and Jews. It is a unique historic opportunity to restore order in today's Tower of Babel. ...read more

Though today we celebrate all the many wonderful holy men and women who have gone before us, November is traditionally a month where we remember our dearly departed, the poor souls in purgatory. We may also want to regularly call to mind the Papal intentions for this month.  Pope Benedict XVI’s general prayer intention for ...read more

The annual meeting of the Canadian bishops has come to a close. And just in time—the bishops are leaving Cornwall, Ontario for nearby Montreal to celebrate the Mass of Thanksgiving for the canonization of Brother André. (S+L will broadcast the Mass live in French at 1:30 pm ET, repeating in English at 9:30 pm ET.) ...read more

You could call it Latin lessons with Edmonton’s Archbishop Richard Smith. Credo Ecclesiam unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam.  Its translation would perhaps be best rendered as “we profess the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” Credo Ecclesiam means that we accept and profess that the Church is a work of God, that it is part ...read more

The Synod of Bishops for the Middle East came to a conclusion last Sunday. Catholic News Service’s, Cindy Wooden and John Thavis offer a wrap-up on some of the issues that were discussed. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

Do you find yourself ranting about the perils of facebook? Do you overhear busride tales depicting blogosphere character assassination? Do you think you’ve fulfilled your duty when you post a birthday message on a friend’s wall? Social networking takes up a large portion of our lives; not only do we do it, but we talk ...read more

On Sunday Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. During his homily he announced the theme of the next Synod of Bishops, in 2012. That Synod will be focused on new Evangelization. The Holy Father said: I have decided to dedicate the next Ordinary General Assembly, ...read more

After two weeks of speeches, discussion, study and prayer, the Synod of Bishops on the Middle East came to a close. The last order of business was to had over to the Holy Father a list of recommendations regarding the current situation of the Churches in the Middle East. It’s a long list of propositions. ...read more

Of making many books there is no end. – Ecclesiastes 12:12 I found this Scripture verse, funnily enough, during my reading research for the second season of Salt + Light’s book show, Word for Word. Of making many books there is no end, and I felt like I was wading through them all, trying to ...read more