Pietro Parolin

Given the mental and emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society over the past year-and-a-half, for many, spiritual retreat may be more essential than ever.

There are no ugly angels. In the entire 10,000-year history of art, from the caves of Lescaux through the Mystical Nativity of Sandro Botticelli to Ms. Fleming’s Grade 3 art class, every single depiction of angels is a depiction of beauty. Opera Atelier co-artistic director Marshall Pynkoski knows why.

OTTAWA -- Despite the continuing economic disruption of the COVID pandemic, most Canadian non-profits are optimistic that better days are ahead.

OTTAWA -- Canada’s bishops remain hopeful that a planned meeting in the Vatican with Indigenous leaders and the Pope will lead to further reconciliation despite the leader of the largest Indigenous organization in Canada saying she will not go to the Vatican.

Have you heard of “The Warning” (aka “The Illumination of Consciences”)?

Then, miraculously, everything returned to normal. Or so it would seem.

At the beginning of the current pandemic, there was much discussion about the need for a new normal to emerge after the crisis. Yet increasingly, old divisions are being exacerbated and the dominance of the rich over the poor is being repeated in new ways. Instead of moving toward a more equitable global sharing of resources, wealthier nations cling to the sad tradition of “me first” in allocating vaccines to battle the coronavirus.

Fear and anger. These are some of the strong emotions many Canadians have experienced in preparing to vote in the Sept. 20 federal election.

MEXICO CITY -- The Mexican Supreme Court has invalidated a clause in a state constitution that provided protection of life "from the moment in which an individual is conceived ... until their death," arguing that no state government could determine when life begins; only the federal constitution could determine that.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM SLOVAKIA (CNS) -- The debate about denying Communion to politicians who support abortion must be handled in a pastoral way, not by public condemnations that seek to "excommunicate" Catholics who are not in line with church teaching, Pope Francis said.