Pope Benedict began Day 2 of his apostolic journey in Benin when he met with President Yani Bono, diplomatic corp members and those of the government. This all took place in the Presidential Palace in Cotonou. In his address, the Holy Father used the symbol of a hand in speaking about religious diversity in the ...read more

It has been a whirlwind of a day for Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican officials. They are currently in the midst of the Holy Father’s 22nd apostolic voyage, which is taking place in the small West African nation of Benin. The Pope left Rome’s Fiumicino Airport around 9:00am (Rome time). During the six-hour flight, he ...read more

In the course of history, Popes have not been known for hosting press conferences. But on special occasions, such as apostolic voyages, Pope Benedict takes the time and effort to answer some of the many questions he receives from reporters who travel with him as part of his entourage. This happened again today during the ...read more

Earlier today, Pope Benedict XVI was welcomed to Benin by Yayi Boni, the President of the West African nation, along with enthusiastic crowds. During a ceremony at the Cardinal Bernard Gantin International Airport, the Holy Father said he was “looking forward to bringing back to African soil the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus.” The Pope ...read more

As anti-capitalism protests continue in Toronto’s St. James Park, a different kind of protest occupied the front lawn of the provincial legislature one week ago. Nearly 2,000 demonstrators gathered at Queen’s Park for the first ever Defund Abortion Rally. The event called on the province of Ontario to end the practice of subsidizing elective abortions. ...read more

Nearly 100 Israeli, Palestinian and Italian runners put aside all differences as they participated in the 8th annual Pope John Paul II Bethlehem-Jerusalem Peace Run on October 24. The annual race is sponsored by Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, the Vatican’s official travel agency, and the Israeli tourism ministry. The hope is that events like these will ...read more

In these past few months, not only has our Canadian economy cooled, but the European debt crisis continues to spiral out of control. Many economists throughout the world still remain skeptical as to whether any long-term, effective changes will be brought forward. Officials at the Vatican, however, are more optimistic. The Pontifical Council for Justice ...read more

It feels like just yesterday that we celebrated the canonization of Brother André of Montreal, the first Canadian-born male Saint. The lead-up to this historic event last year, as well as the Commemoration Mass in Olympic Stadium, remains fresh in our minds at S+L. To celebrate the first anniversary, S+L will air highlights from last ...read more

All thanks to a Polish nun whose death we remember today, the Universal Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday on the 2nd Sunday of Easter. The Divine Mercy devotion is similar in many ways to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The purpose of this particular devotion is to help those of us who struggle ...read more

The Government of Canada is a step closer to making its Office of Religious Freedom a reality. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird held a roundtable discussion with religious leaders on Monday. The planned Office of Religious Freedom will be located in the Ottawa headquarters of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. There, Baird welcomed nearly 100 religious leaders, ...read more