This week’ Vatican Connections looks at the innovations of Pope Francis: using the Vatican’s media spokesperson to confirm the date of a consistory for new Cardinals, and celebrating All Saints day Mass at the Verano Cemetary for the first time in 20 years. Plus we bring you a look at the Vatican’s involvement in the ...read more

Two weeks ago there was a huge victory for opponents of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada in a case that determined that doctors must obtain consent before removing life-support from a patient. The case was that of Hassan Rasouli who apparently was misdiagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state since October 2010. According ...read more

Here is the translation of Pope Francis’ address during an audience with the directors, employees and collaborators of the Vatican Television Center (CTV) on the occasion of their 30th anniversary. Dear friends, The Vatican Television Center, commissioned by Blessed John Paul II, was born on October 22nd, 1983. On this path there has been much ...read more

Every WYD has a theme and WYD 2013 was no different. Matthew 28:19 “go and make disciples of all nations” inspired everything that happened in Rio de Janeiro this past summer. But Pope Francis was part of many events and celebrations. Outside of the four main World Youth Day events, he was part of some ...read more

Today is the 87th World Mission Sunday. After the Angelus, Pope Francis addressed the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s square with these words: Dear brothers and sisters, Today is World Mission Day. What is the mission of the Church? To spread throughout the world the flame of faith that Jesus has lighted in the world: ...read more

What does it mean to be a missionary today? As we approach the end of the Year of Faith, we can say that to be a missionary is at the heart of the new evangelization, especially when we have a pope that is inviting us to go out to the peripheries! Today, as we celebrate ...read more

In a week when the media was focusing on bishops with lavish spending habits, and funeral rites for Nazi war criminals, Pope Francis was drawing people back to what matters: prayer. Pope Francis put prayer front and centre this week any chance he could get. On Thursday the official papal tweet read: “Our prayer cannot ...read more

  This post was contributed by Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, Secretary General of the Canadian Council of Churches.    As I write this blog on the 2014 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in full awareness of it’s theme “Is Christ Divided?”, it is Thanksgiving Monday, a time when so many of us focus on ...read more

Below is the full text of Pope Francis homily for Marian Day. The celebration was organized as part of the Year of Faith and coincided with the anniversary of the final apparition at Fatima. The statue of Our Lady was flow to Rome from Fatima on Saturday for Marian Day. During the celebration Pope Francis ...read more

Yesterday, Saturday October 12, the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima arrived in Rome where it was part of various celebrations commemorating Marian Day for the Year of Faith, including a prayer service with a catechesis and a vigil with a video message to Marian Shrines all over the world. The statue has only ...read more