President John F. Kennedy is pictured with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in this undated photo. Fifty years after Kennedy campaigned to become the first Catholic U.S. president, much has changed about the religious makeup of the American political scene. Photo description & credit: CNS ...read more

In this week’s edition of Vatican Connection we go through the headline: the Pontifical Council for Culture takes on the issue of doping in sports, we introduce you to one of our Vatican Connections, the director and editor in chief of Catholic News Service and Royalty stops by to visit Pope Benedict. For me, the ...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

Why does the Catholic Church have a vested interest in chaplaincy at airports? Simply put, providing pastoral care for people on the move is a special concern for the Catholic Church. It is summarized in the two greatest commandments, that being “love of God” and “love of neighbour”. More than that, Airport Ministry is a ...read more

The world was shocked by the news out of Belgium that 45-year-old deaf twins chose to be euthanized after learning that they were losing their vision. The case epitomized the “slippery slope” that euthanasia opponents have been warning about. Euthanasia is usually advocated using the example of terminally-ill patients in unbearable pain who give full ...read more

2567 God calls man first. Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer. In prayer, the faithful God’s initiative of love always ...read more

Tonight on Perspectives the Vatican is concerned about restrictions to religious freedom and we take a look at today’s General Audience ...read more

Why does the Catholic Church have a vested interest in chaplaincy at airports? Simply put, providing pastoral care for people on the move is a special concern for the Catholic Church. It is summarized in the two greatest commandments, that being “love of God” and “love of neighbour”. More than that, airport ministry is a ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to begin his general audience at the Paul VI audience hall today. Just behind the Holy Father is Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa! Archbishop Prendergast is in Rome to take part in an event being organized by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), the Congregation for Eastern Churches,  and the ...read more

Earlier today in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI baptized 20 babies inside the Sistine Chapel. There was an underlying tone in Benedict’s address this year. He urged couples and godparents to lead their lives as an example of true Christian virtue even though it may seem unfashionable. If you missed this morning’s festivities from Rome, join ...read more