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Argentine Cardinal Jose Mario Bergoglio was runner-up for pope in 2005
UPDATE: MARCH 14, 2013: This archived post takes on new significance today, following yesterday’s election of Cardinal Bergoglio as Supreme Pontiff. I had wondered why Bergoglio, who named himself Pope...
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Argentine pope should bring focus to developing world (Update/Video)
Although some Canadians are disappointed Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet was not elected pope, those who yearn for a fresh breeze from the Vatican are pleased with the new Latin American pontiff. A new...
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Vatican denies allegations new pope supported junta
This morning the Vatican’s main press officer — a Canadian named Father Tom Rosica — chose to head off some negative stories about Pope Francis before they gain too much momentum. Nobody disputes that...
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Canadian cardinal was pope-maker: Italian media
Italian media are saying, based on insider reports, Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet came in second in the secret conclave balloting. If accurate, this could set Ouellet up for a powerful position inside...
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Pope Francis: Six things to watch for – and why they matter to non-Catholics
The retired bishop of Victoria has been granted one thing he prayed for in a new pope. Bishop Remi de Roo, who has frequently taught in Latin America, said before this week’s conclave he hoped the next...
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Protestant views of Pope Francis and church ‘insularity’
The Anglican priest at St.-Francis-in-the-Wood parish was reflecting Sunday on last week’s election of Pope Francis, leader of the 1.2 billion member Roman Catholic church. West Vancouver Rev. Angus...
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Behind scenes, Pope advocated ‘civil unions’ in Argentina
One of the strongest signs Pope Francis is ready to negotiate with people with whom the Vatican strongly disagrees came out this week in an important New York Times story. It revealed that, in 2010,...
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Pope Francis places ‘radical’ Jesuits in spotlight
The most famous Jesuit in the world now is Pope Francis. The Argentine cardinal is a longtime member of the Jesuit order, which was founded by the passionate 16th-century Spanish knight and mystic,...
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Lessons from South America (and not just Pope Francis)
The new South American pope is calling the globe’s wealthy into question. World Cup mania is set to burst out of Brazil next year. Gay marriage has been approved in many countries. Reformers are...
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Learning from Latin America’s top religion journalists
It’s been fabulous to gather together with roughly 15 of Latin America’s leading religion journalists — from Pope Francis’s Argentinian biographer to South America’s high-profile correspondent for Al...
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Latin America, favelas, suffering and new hope
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — After I signed up for a trip into Latin America’s largest favela, I became nervous. Favelas, a word normally translated as slums, have a history of chaos, violence, despair...
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Pope Francis moves to end ‘obsession’ with sexual morality
The new pope, Francis, believes too many Catholics are “obsessed” with homosexuality, abortion, divorce and contraception. Given the pope hopes to attain a “new balance,” he has rushed to set up an...
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Pope Francis on path that was “unthinkable” a year ago: Vancouver archbishop
“Pope Francis has set the Church on a path of renewal that even a year ago would have been unthinkable,” Vancouver Catholic Archbishop Michael Miller told a gathering at Simon Fraser University....
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B.C. residents embrace both Dalai Lama and Pope Francis: Poll 1
Jesus and Buddha have high approval ratings among British Columbians. The founders of Christianity and Buddhism both receive strongly favourable rankings in B.C. and Metro Vancouver, according to an...
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Vancouver archbishop on love, ethnicity, justice and his favorite food
Archbishop Michael Miller is the single most influential religious leader in British Columbia. As the head of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Vancouver, he is responsible for more than 430,000...
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Richard Dawkins: Just 25 per cent of atheists, agnostics ‘approve’ of him
The British Columbians who are atheists, agnostics or unaffiliated are more fond of Buddha and Pope Francis than Richard Dawkins. The high proportion of respondents who told Insights West pollsters...
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Looks like Dalai Lama is coming to Vancouver in October
Messages are flying around the Internet that the Dalai Lama is coming to Vancouver in October. If so, it would be the sixth time he has visited the city, which must be close to some sort of record for...
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“Dignity” debate at root of major news controversies
Can a prostitute have dignity? That question is in the air after the federal government this month proposed a law restricting sex work. Does extremely low pay rob working people of dignity? Those who...
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Joel Osteen is successful: But does God want us all to be rich?
“Joel Osteen tickets are tickets to salvation. Joel Osteen tickets are tickets to redemption.” That’s how one hyper-enthusiastic online ticket agency is promoting the Aug. 15 appearance at 18,000-seat...
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Vancouver sculptor creating ten-foot Pope. And Aristotle too.
Louise Solecki Weir is an artist with a spiritual and philosophical bent, busily creating a large sculpture of Pope John Paul II as well as smaller ones of Aristotle. The North Vancouver artist...
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