An act that sows division and produces rifts and tensions. [singlepic id=39 w=320 float=right]That’s how a statement from the Holy See describes last Wednesday’s Episcopal ordination in the Diocese of Leshan, China. There was no Papal mandate for the ordination of Fr. Paul Lei Shiyin, and hence the Holy See does not recognize him as ...read more

Today marks not only the beginning of a new month, but also Canada Day. It’s a day of thanksgiving for all the many blessings we have in Canada, and to pray for the future of Canada, for government and civic leaders as well. [singlepic id=36 w=320 float=right]It is also the Solemnity of Sacred Heart. Last ...read more

It’s been a busy week for Pope Benedict, with the highlight being his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. That milestone is the focus of this week’s Catholic News Service Vatican Report with Rome Bureau Chief John Thavis and Rome correspondent Carol Glatz. ...read more

With the launch of the Vatican news site — news.va — earlier this week we had the first tweeting Pope. [singlepic id=37 w=240 float=right]But, the Holy Father isn’t the first Bishop to tweet. And one who is busy in the Twitter universe is the Archdiocese of Quebec’s Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix. (follow him here) Archbishop ...read more

This year, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul brought three reasons to celebrate. The most obvious, is of course the fact that it’s a solemnity honouring two of the Church’s pillars. On one hand we have St. Peter, and his beautiful profession of faith: “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of ...read more

Archbishop Gérald Lacroix will be one of 40 Archbishops from around the world to receive the pallium on Wednesday. [singlepic id=24 h=200 float=right]Every year in Rome at Mass on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI imposes the pallium on Metropolitan Archbishops who have been named in the past year. To impose ...read more

What is the precise significance of today’s Solemnity, of the Body and Blood of Christ? The answer is given to us in the fundamental actions of this celebration we are carrying out: first of all we gather around the altar of the Lord, to be together in his presence; secondly, there will be the procession, ...read more

A martyr from the Dachau concentration camp has been beatified — and Pope Benedict has entrusted to him, and all the martyrs of concentration camps, the cause for peace. Speaking at his Sunday Angelus, the Holy Father gave thanks for the “heroic witness” of Fr. Alois Andritzki. The 28-year old priest was accused by the ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini has been called the most important document on the Bible in 45 years. The Exhortation is the result of the October 2008 General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, which was dedicated to “The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church.” ...read more

The Vatican gave a status report on the completed first phase of the visitation of Irish church institutions in the wake of the sex abuse scandal. Rome bureau chief John Thavis reports. ...read more