“Quid est veritas?” I will never forget that line, “What is truth?”, from the movie The Passion. I remember quoting it constantly among friends. We were fascinated by the line delivery by the actor who played Pilate. …And perhaps we were looking for the truth. I recalled all this recently when reading parts of Pope ...read more

Who killed Jesus? From the Gospels, we know that he was crucified directly by Roman soldiers. But those who want to attribute blame for his death have drawn in a wider pool of suspects: Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, the Jewish people, and all of humanity. The question of Jewish culpability in “deicide” is particularly charged, ...read more

Newspapers over the last few month have all too often had stories about the persecution of Christians. From Iraq, to Egypt, to many parts of the Middle East it is unfortunately becoming common to read about assaults on the faithful. Here in the Archdiocese of Toronto, Archbishop Collins have been very encouraging for parishes to ...read more

Toronto’s Archbishop Thomas Collins and Salt + Light Television CEO Fr. Thomas Rosica are among the participants of the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications gathered in Rome this week. Catholic News Service’s Rome bureau chief John Thavis reports Pope Benedict XVI addressed the assembly today. To download Flash Player please click ...read more

Rosary? Check. Pilgrim’s booklet? Check. YouCat? Check. World Youth Day guidebook? Check. The pilgrim packs are being assembled for this year’s World Youth Day in Madrid. And just like when he became the first pilgrim to register for the August 2011 event, Pope Benedict became the first to receive the pilgrim pack. The Archbishop of ...read more

While some shake their head at seemingly lower number of vocations, the Holy Father says that the Lord still calls people today, and “at every stage of life to share in his mission and to serve the Church in the ordained ministry and in the consecrated life.” The Lord is calling — but we must ...read more

Friday is the World Day of the Sick (read the Pope’s message for the day here) and Saturday marks the 80th birthday for Vatican Radio. Catholic News Service’s Rome bureau chief John Thavis reports. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

Today in Madrid WYD organizers confirmed the “extra” events on the Pope Benedict XVI's agenda during the event. ...read more

Pope Benedict addressed the plenary assembly of the Congregation for Catholic Education today. Among the topics discussed: the internet and seminary formation. Catholic News Service’s Rome Bureau Chief John Thavis has more on this, as well as the Pope’s comments on Egypt, and an American Cardinal takes his titular Church in Rome. To download Flash ...read more

General Audience, and the Christmas season comes to an end with the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. Catholic News Service’s John Thavis takes a look at happenings at the Vatican for February 2nd, which includes an unexpected greeting for the Holy Father. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more