There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with him. Those words are from Pope Benedict XVI’s homily at the Mass inaugurating his Pontificate It’s also the inspiration for ...read more

At 9pm ET / 6pm PT this evening, S+L will premiere the full-length version of Within Your Gates: A Pilgrim Guide to the Holy Land. The film originally aired in May to coincide with the first anniversary of Pope Benedict’s trip to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Tonight’s broadcast includes scenes from the city ...read more

The tone of S+L’s latest documentary is set by a lone organ. Playing the instrument is Joe Zambon, a folk singer-songwriter originally from the rural town of Iroquois, Ontario, but now residing in Toronto. A guitar joins the organ moments later, and then the hushed lyrics, “In the darkest night of my soul, God Himself ...read more

A few pages into “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church, and the Signs of the Times”, Peter Seewald disappeared. The German journalist had secured one of the world’s most elusive interviews—a one-on-one with the Pope. Since the start of his pontificate, Benedict XVI had until now given only a couple of interviews, apart ...read more

Cardinal Raymond Burke is an American cardinal posted as the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura at the Vatican. The Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church. The new cardinal took some time to speak with Salt + Light’s Alicia Ambrosio about the release of Peter Seewald’s book “Light of the World” ...read more

To download Flash Player please click here The following is the English-language communiqué released today by the Vatican Press Office. This document marks the beginning of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland. On 19 March 2010, following a meeting with the bishops of Ireland, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI issued a Pastoral Letter to the Catholics ...read more

Two years ago, the bishops of the world drafted a list of 55 recommendations about the Word of God. Pope Benedict XVI has now issued his long-awaited response: Verbum Domini (“The Word of the Lord”). The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation represents the final outcome of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God, which convened ...read more

It was one of the most emotional moments of Pope Benedict’s visit to Spain. Yet the event itself was overshadowed by the two much larger gatherings of the papal visit: Mass outside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the dedication of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona. The event I’m referring to is the ...read more

It was an event over 120 years in the making. A day that Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi had always dreamed about. The day that the greatest work of his life and career would be consecrated by the leader of the Catholic Church. The Sagrada Familia Church garners over 4 million visitors a year, but up ...read more

The first Mass of the Pope’s Apostolic Visit to Spain took place in Obradoiro Square next to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The square was filled to capacity with over 7,000 people  present, including an estimated 600 priests and 100 Cardinals and Bishops. Another 20,000 people were in the vicinity for the event. The ...read more