Below is the introduction of Archbishop Francis Leo’s Pastoral Letter to the Archdiocese of Toronto. The complete pastoral letter is available archtoronto.org.

I had the recent privilege of speaking with Linda Nicholls, Primate of The Anglican Church of Canada, at her Toronto office.

Dave Szollosy’s article “Pilgrims seeking peace register their voice” in The Catholic Register showed equal concern for both sides in the Israel-Hamas war.

The Catholic Register editorial of Dec. 24 regarding the new Vatican declaration on blessing  “irregular” and same-sex couples asks: “If nothing changes, why the need for a 5,000-word text to say so?” Perhaps to darken, perplex and bewilder?

In promoting blessing of same-sex couples, Pope Francis argues “...those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection” or “...be subjected to too many moral prerequisites.” In other words, don’t judge their likely sinful activity.

I congratulate Rudy Fernandes for his beautifully expressed sentiments in the Dec. 17th Catholic Register about the effort of he and his wife Maureen to keep Christ in our Christmas wishes.

I nearly fell out of my chair when I opened The Catholic Register in November and saw the Letters to the Editor section in its full glory. It was refreshing to once again experience the beating pulse of the community that doubles as a barometer for all, and a compass to you. Can we do it again, please?

2023 Christmas message from Archbishop Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto.

A statement on the persecution of Christians from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace.

Pope Benedict XVI resigned the papacy in a state of nervous exhaustion. Cardinal Pell died during routine surgery after imprisonment for a crime he did not commit. Cardinal Zen is languishing in a prison in Communist China. Bishop Strickland was stripped of his governance of Tyler, Texas.