Pietro Parolin

After a surprise, expedited third reading of long-promised legislation to ban conversion therapy, Canada’s Catholic bishops are hoping the Senate will amend the bill to ensure private conversations and religious teaching about sexuality and gender are not criminalized.

How have you been preparing yourself to celebrate Christmas this year?

Canada’s ban on travel from southern Africa and the failure of rich countries to effectively share COVID-19 vaccines with the rest of the world has Jesuit Fr. Charles Chilufya steaming mad.

Celebrated Canadian actor Robert Holmes (R.H.) Thomson is about to step back into his element after a pandemic-induced hiatus.

In a speech to an international congress in Madrid last month, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Jose Gomez, painted movements of social justice, “wokeness” and identity politics as pseudo-religions.

VATICAN CITY -- The representation of Peru's diverse Indigenous communities in this year's Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square embodies the joy and hope of their faith, said Peruvian Bishop Carlos Alberto Salcedo Ojeda of Huancavelica, Peru.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- When restoration on the Church of the Nativity's wooden beams and leaking roof began in 2013 with the blessing of the three custodial churches, everyone involved was aware of the historic significance of the venture. It was the first time in 540 years that any repair work was done on the church on the site where Jesus was born.

Praise earned

Re: Led by the Spirit to joyful encounter (Deacon Robert Kinghorn, Nov. 28):

St. Ignatius of Loyola once said, “Hate what the world seeks and seek what it avoids.” The world avoids the poor and rejected people “on the street.” Yet they are the very ones Deacon Robert Kinghorn seeks out and helps.

The bags were almost packed, plane reservations made, hotels booked, schedule set. Then came the news on Dec. 7 that the long-planned, much-delayed meeting between Pope Francis and representatives of Canada’s Indigenous communities is on hold again because of COVID concerns.

It’s a hungry world and COVID has only sharpened those hunger pangs.