The following conference was given by the Most Rev. Gerald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada to the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in Nashville, Tennessee on August 9, 2013 “Religion is a fundamental part of culture, not as a dogma nor a belief, but as a cry.”(Maurice Merleau-Ponty, French Philosopher, ...read more

What are we to make of this latest encyclical written by the four hands of Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI?  Remember that encyclicals make up a very significant part of the magisterial teaching of the Church.  Not only are they written and promulgated by the pope, but they focus on and are particularly ...read more

Pastoral Letter for the Year of Faith Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires October 2012 Dear Brothers and Sisters: Among the most striking experiences of the last decades is finding doors closed. Little by little increasing insecurity has made us bolt doors, employ means of vigilance, install security cameras and mistrust strangers who call at ...read more

Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pontifical Council for Social Communications 47th World Communications Day Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization Dear Brothers and Sisters, As the 2013 World Communications Day draws near, I would like to offer you some reflections on an increasingly important reality regarding the way in ...read more

CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters CNS description: Pope Benedict XVI speaks to astronauts on the International Space Station from the Vatican via a video link May 21, 2011. ...read more

CNS file photo Pope Paul VI watches the moon landing at Castelgandolfo on 21 July, 1969. ...read more

CNS file photo CNS description: Archbishop Karol Wojtyla receives the cardinal’s red biretta from Pope Paul VI at the beginning of the consistory in the Sistine Chapel June 26, 1967. The future Pope John Paul II had a warm relationship with Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini), who served as a priest in Warsaw in ...read more

The term “synod of bishops” seems to have become a household name among certain Catholics. Most have, at least heard of one of these: The Synod on the Word of God, the Synod on the Middle East, or the recent Synod on the New Evangelisation. But 15 years ago, many of you probably did not ...read more

CNS file photo by W. H. Keeler CNS description: With rosary in hand, Pope John Paul II scans the crowd as his helicopter circles Colorado’s Cherry Creek State Park before the closing Mass for World Youth Day Aug. 15, 1993. “Place your intelligence, your talents, your enthusiasm, your compassion and your fortitude at the service ...read more

CNS file photo Pope John Paul II kisses a rain-soaked tarmac as he arrives in Jakarta, Indonesia, on a pastoral trip in 1989. ...read more