The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity concludes Wednesday on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. Tomorrow we get to hear the Pope’s reflections on Christian unity as he presides over Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. He will be joined by representatives of other ...read more

Last week I blogged about the importance of the Second Vatican Council in the life of the Church, and the responsibility of all Catholics to be proactive with the graces entrusted to them.  The fruits of that Council, namely the documents themselves and the broader shift in ecclesial mentality, are perhaps the greatest and most ...read more

What’s the difference between saying, ‘We come to pray together’ and ‘We come together to pray’? What is the difference between proselytizing, evangelizing and dialogue? Do these actions mutually exclude each other? These are some of the questions most people have when it comes to interfaith dialogue. It quickly becomes about fine distinctions and nuanced ...read more

Here is Pope Benedict XVI’s speech in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, Italy, before representatives of the world’s religions and non-believers: Dear Brothers and Sisters, Distinguished Heads and Representatives of Churches, Ecclesial Communities and World Religions, Dear Friends, Twenty-five years have passed since Blessed Pope John Paul II first invited representatives ...read more

This morning the Holy Father met with the Council of the Evangelical Germany Church in Erfurt, in a former Augustinian Convent. A historic moment as this place is where Martin Luther was ordained a Catholic priest in 1507. Ladies and Gentlemen, As I begin to speak, I would like first of all to thank you ...read more

In nearly six years at S+L, my most challenging film shoot was at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Widely considered the holiest shrine in the world, the church features prominently in the documentary Within Your Gates. Gaining access to film in the edicule—the small structure marking Jesus’ burial tomb—felt like a minor ...read more

You could call it Latin lessons with Edmonton’s Archbishop Richard Smith. Credo Ecclesiam unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam.  Its translation would perhaps be best rendered as “we profess the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” Credo Ecclesiam means that we accept and profess that the Church is a work of God, that it is part ...read more

It was an appropriate beginning to evening prayer at Westminster Abbey. The procession featured three banners — one of St. George, one of St. Edward the Confessor, and one of St. Peter. St. George is the patron of England, a beloved saint for Anglicans.  St. Peter, of course is beloved by Catholics.  St. Edward the ...read more

Concern for Christians in the Middle East.  Fighting world hunger and disease.  Continuing theological dialogue. These were just three of the topics discussed in the private meeting between Pope Benedict and Archbishop Rowan Williams. Read more on the closed door meeting at Lambeth Palace from a joint communiqué released Friday afternoon: Fifty years after the ...read more

A warm embrace. That was how Pope Benedict was greeted as he met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.  It was as if His Grace flew to meet the Holy Father as he stepped out of his car, arriving at the Archbishop’s residence, Lambeth Palace. The Holy Father emphasized the importance of praying ...read more