Pope Francis has always shown deep sensitivity to the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. Since the beginning of his pontificate, he has regularly spoken out in defence of these vulnerable communities, highlighting the injustices and suffering they endure. Whether in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, or other regions marked by conflict and violence, the Holy Father has expressed his unconditional support, urging the international community to intervene to protect the faithful. 

Yea though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.  This line from the Book of Job was the response of Rabbi Abraham Heschel to the question, “How can you possibly believe in God after six million of your people were slaughtered in the holocaust?!”  The tears streaming down Rabbi Heschel’s face spoke of his anguish over this evil, and perhaps his anguish in not understanding why God allowed it.  His tears spoke of an answer wrenched from the deepest possible act of trust and faith, not an answer solely from the intellect or will.  It’s the only answer that can bring peace to the heart.

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon in Arizona is an extraordinary experience.  It’s not just the stunning beauty, It’s also the silence.  You can hear the chatter of tourists behind you, but in front is a palpable silence, replete with Divine Presence.

The following is the text of Pope Francis’ “e-letter” released on Oct. 7 to mark the anniversary of Hamas’ murderous attack on Israel and the ensuing spiral of violence.

Discussions of family size have increased in political and religious discourse as North American birth rates hit historic lows. Catherine Pakaluk, an economist and associate professor at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., recently authored Hannah’s Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth.

In 2013, I wrote a column for the National Post about Dr. Donald Low, a microbiologist at Mt. Sinai Hospital. He spoke about his cancer diagnosis, his fear of tremendous pain that might be looming and the loss of his dignity. He spoke without self-pity and urged Canada to make physician-assisted death legal. He died eight days later. 

Pope Francis often speaks about how the elderly are a treasure and has dedicated much of his pontificate to promoting a culture of encounter between generations.Inspired by this emphasis, Bishop Hector Vila recently invited me to the Diocese of Whitehorse to deliver several workshops and presentations geared toward exploring the value of life at all stages.

When I first heard rumblings about a documentary titled Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist I had mixed feelings. While other recent programming such as this year’s Mother Cabrini film and the ongoing series The Chosen had drawn me in along with sizeable audiences sharing a hunger for Catholic representation in media, I found a sense of skepticism about a documentary tackling something as important to the faith as the Eucharist. 

Structurally, within our very life, the human person is one who thirsts and expects something beyond ourselves. Consequently, faith is a response to these authentic needs already ineradicably embedded in us.

Reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and entities of the Catholic Church will be a long road to travel. Dr. Natasha Duquette has taken some steps along this road by recently offering an academic course called Indigenous Writers of North America.