Here is Pope Benedict XVI’s speech in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, Italy, before representatives of the world’s religions and non-believers: Dear Brothers and Sisters, Distinguished Heads and Representatives of Churches, Ecclesial Communities and World Religions, Dear Friends, Twenty-five years have passed since Blessed Pope John Paul II first invited representatives ...read more

  Tonight on Perspectives: We look ahead to tomorrow’s live coverage of Assisi and officials at the Vatican talk global reform. ...read more

Do we need modern media to proclaim the Good News? We have a duty to evangelize, but is there a wrong way to evangelize? Can modern media, such as Youtube and Facebook, effectively communicate the depth of revelation? Can a tweet bring you one step closer to an encounter with Jesus, the icon of the ...read more

In my time covering the Church, I’ve had the opportunity to meet bishops from around the world, of all different leadership styles and personalities. I’ve often been struck by stories I hear from bishops in Africa. I’ve been told that in Africa, the bishop is not just an authority figure. He walks with the people; ...read more

We return home on a spiritual high, confident and joyful. We’ve experienced the universal church; we know we are not alone. As we settle back into our routine, there is the temptation to live in the reverie of the moment but not do anything about it. Our response to the experience determines how receptive our ...read more

After the WYD “high,” how do you continue to nourish the seeds of faith that were planted? That’s the question Pedro asks this week on Perspectives: The Weekly Edition. Joining him for the discussion is Neiman D’Souza, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Toronto, and Jonathan Nix, coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Bonaventure parish ...read more

On Thursday, the Vatican announced the theme of World Communications Day 2012: “Silence and Word: path of evangelization”. The Vatican has touched on a theme that holds enormous potential for us all. More than ever, silence plays an important role in communications and all of our inter-personal relationships. Noise and clutter has become so prevalent ...read more

Since John Paul II, the pope has been in the spotlight of news media. But unlike his predecessor, Benedict XVI is not very easy for journalists to cover, as demonstrated by his recent four-day trip to Germany. ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI’s farewell address given at Lahr Airport: Mr President of the Federal Republic, Distinguished Representatives of the Federal Government, of Baden Württemburg and its Communities, Dear Brother Bishops, Ladies and Gentlemen, Before leaving Germany, I would like very much to thank you for these days, so moving and eventful, spent in my native ...read more

The Holy Father reminds those Catholics working in the Church and society of the origins of the Church’s mission: the triune God, in the mystery of divine love. The Church finds her meaning solely in being a tool for salvation, in filling the world with God’s word, and in transforming the world by bringing it ...read more