Here are a few things that we’ve been reading about across the country this week: In Antigonish, NS a significant donation to St. Francis Xavier University means more people who would not normally have access to post-secondary education will not get that access. In Toronto, the Archdiocese is on track to bring 100 refugee families ...read more

Here’s what’s been going on in the church in Canada this week: National events have been obscured by the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Archbishop Paul Andre Durocher of Gatineau is there representing the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has been posting to his blog “Sing and Walk” on a daily basis. Check it ...read more

Pope Francis delivered his Urbi et Orbi message — to the city (of Rome) and to the world — today at noon, Rome time.  The traditional message and blessing is given at Christmas and Easter.  The underlying theme of his address was peace throughout the world. The Holy Father called on the faithful to ask ...read more

Following a historic conclave, Pope Francis was publicly installed as the 266th Bishop of Rome earlier today in St. Peter’s Square. Published below is an unofficial translation of the Holy Father’s homily. Note: S+L will rebroadcast the mass at 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT, 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT and 12:00 am ET/9:00 pm PT. ...read more

Pope Francis has taken the world by storm. But will he be able to evangelize young people? Host Kris Dmytrenko asks Fr. Frank Portelli and Oriana Bertucci what the youth think of the new pontiff. Also on the panel, Auravelia Colomer shares what it was like to be in St. Peter’s Square when the new ...read more

This post was submitted by Jocelyn Kilpatrick, a friend of Salt + Light who is currently living Vladivostok, Russia where she teaches English. Jocelyn is originally from the Toronto area. Fr. Dan makes his way through Vladivostok’s main square, attracting curious stares from the locals. He has not often worn his clerical garb in public ...read more

Castel Gandolfo, on the Feast of Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli – August 2, 2012 Benedictus PP. XVI Source: http://www.osservatoreromano.va/ Fifty years ago, on October 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in St Peter’s Basilica It was a splendid day on 11 October 1962 when the Second Vatican Council opened with the ...read more

In July 2012, an unprecedented event happened in Shanghai, China. Bishop Ma Daqin, was ordained an auxiliary bishop with papal approval. Upon his ordination he denounced his membership with China’s Patriotic Association (a government agency which controls the Catholic Church in China) in front of the government officials. His courageous declaration received praise inside and ...read more

As we began Day 2 of our work in Niamey, we had the chance to meet with His Grace, Archbishop Michel Cartateguy, SMA – the lone Catholic Archbishop in Niger. S+L’s Kris Dmytrenko sat down with Archbishop Cartateguy for an in-depth interview bright and early this morning. Among the many issues they discussed, Kris and ...read more

Published below is today’s homily, as delivered by Cardinal Robert Sarah at Mass. In his homily, Cardinal Sarah reflected on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – an important feast that the Universal Church celebrates today. It was through the body of a young, Jewish girl, living in a tiny village called Nazareth, ...read more