As many of our parish priests can attest to Holy Week marks one of the busiest times of the year — and of course this is no different for the Bishop of Rome. Tomorrow, March 25th, marks the beginning of a number of major events that Pope Benedict is participating in, including a meeting with ...read more

At 10am this morning, Rome time, media accredited to the Holy See received a copy of the Pope’s letter to Irish Catholics. Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ held a press briefing at 11am in the Holy See Press Hall. The letter was to be released to the public at 12:00 pm (Rome time). Journalists ...read more

On Friday, we shared the response by the CCCB to some articles in Canadian newspapers regarding clergy sexual abuse.  One of the papers cited was the National Post.  In the Saturday edition of the Post, CBC personality Rex Murphy offered a response to one of the offending articles: Bluster masquerading as reason A sexual abuse ...read more

[Signed at the Vatican on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19th, Pope Benedict’s letter to the Catholics of Ireland was released today, Saturday March 20th in Rome.  What follows is the official text of the document.  Visit the Vatican website for more resources.] PASTORAL LETTER OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI TO THE ...read more

The Pope has written a Pastoral Letter to all the Catholics of Ireland, expressing his dismay at the sexual abuse of young people by Church representatives and the way this was addressed by local bishops and religious superiors. He asks that the Letter be read with attention and in its entirety. The Holy Father speaks ...read more

It’s hard to believe but World Youth Day is celebrating its silver anniversary! Twenty-five years ago Venerable John Paul II launched the annual meeting for young people and Pope Benedict XVI reflected on this milestone in his annual World Youth Day message which was released on Monday. Apart from the international World Youth Day gatherings, ...read more

Posted below is a transcript of Cardinal William Joseph Levada’s address on Anglicanorum coetibus, delivered March 6th in Kingston, Ontario. The American Cardinal, who serves in the Vatican as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was introduced by the chaplain of the Queen’s University Newman Centre, Fr. Raymond de Souza. Note ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI offered prayers at his Sunday Angelus Address yesterday for Chile. A 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the South American nation on Saturday.  At least 700 have been killed, half-a-million homes destroyed, and 1.5 million people affected. “My thought goes out to Chile and the populations affected by the earthquake, which caused numerous losses ...read more

The Pope has been participating in spiritual exercises with the Roman Curia this week.  Catholic News Service’s Cindy Wooden and John Thavis report on the Holy Father’s annual Lenten retreat. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

The Catholic Church in Canada will have another saint to call its own come this fall. There was no doubting the holiness of Blessed André Bessette, CSC, but come Sunday, October 17th, the Miracle Man of Montreal will be officially recognized as a Saint by the universal Church. The date was announced in Rome today ...read more