From Canada to the Vatican
The rise of Cardinal Francis Leo
By Sal Difalco
An anecdote surfaced about Archbishop Francis Leo around the time Pope Francis was set to elevate him to the status of cardinal. It seems that even as a student attending John F. Kennedy High School in Montreal, his classmates affectionately nicknamed him “Father Frank,” a designation he didn’t altogether mind.
In a recent interview, he said:
“At 15, my vocation became clear. It wasn’t a St. Paul on the road to Damascus thing, but it was a big realization.”
He recollects that, only as a young child growing up in the Villeray neighbourhood near Montreal’s Little Italy, did he not feel the call.
Driven by a commitment to holiness, service and a personal vocation to Jesus through prayer, he perhaps inevitably realized his dream of becoming a priest, and then an archbishop.
Neither he nor his schoolmates could have envisaged his elevation to the office of cardinal—the highest rank below the Pope in the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Then, it happened.
On December 7, 2024, Pope Francis presided over a solemn ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, installing 21 new cardinals—Toronto’s Archbishop Francis Leo among the assemblage of bishops receiving the crimson cap or zucchetto.
Born in Montreal on June 30, 1971, Francis “Frank” Leo was the second son of Italian immigrant parents. Coincidentally, both parents came to Canada at the age of 12 with their families—his father in 1953, his mother in 1960—knowing neither French nor English. Lacking higher education, his father toiled at various jobs. His high school-educated mother became a bookkeeper and controller. In the end, his parents did well enough in the schmatta business and textile importing and exporting to buy a house and help their children get a good education.
Faith in Flux: The State of Catholicism in Canada
By Sal Difalco
The Roman Catholic Church has deep roots in Canada, planted long before Confederation.As early as July 7, 1534, on the Gaspé Peninsula shoreline, a French priest accompanying the explorer Jacques Cartier performed the first Mass on future Canadian soil.
With the establishment of New France, and the founding of Quebec City in 1608 and Ville-Marie (Montreal) in 1642, many French religious groups dispatched missionaries there.
Among them, the Recollect Franciscans, Jesuits and Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph founded schools, hospitals and seminaries. Indeed, from the 18th to the early 20th century, the Catholic Church was a key provider of education, health care and welfare in Canada beyond the borders of New France, particularly in rural areas. Then, in the 1960s, when the Canadian government instituted its welfare system, the Church’s role shrank dramatically, as did its once robust congregations.
According to a 2022 Angus Reid Institute survey of the Canadian religious spectrum, 67% of respondents identifying as Catholic said they attend religious services rarely or never.
Only 14 said they attend once or twice a month and 18% said a few times a year. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic skewed numbers tallied during this time when many churches had closed their doors to protect vulnerable members. But diminishment remains thematic.
Statistics Canada figures from 2022 show that the number of Canadian Catholics has declined by almost 2 million people since 2012 to 10.9 million. At the time of the survey, Catholics comprised about 29.9% of the country’s population. According to the 2011 census, for instance, the Catholic population that year was 12.8 million.
Travel Editor’s Diary
Musings and Memories of Matera
By Silvana Longo, Travel Editor
Last summer, I was thrilled to receive an invite to Matera by the region’s tourism office APT Basilicata.
Scheduled for mid-November, the five-day tour would start in the seaside town of Policoro, exploring the surrounding towns, prior to arriving in the highly anticipated UNESCO marvel that is Matera.
What I didn’t anticipate was being decidedly “under the weather” once I got there (I’ll spare you the details). Just minutes before arriving that morning, it became abundantly clear that I was not going to be able to join the organized walking tour which began in Piano, the modern part of the city. Instead, I was quickly whisked away in a taxi to my hotel situated within the storied Sassi.
Cars can only travel so far there, so I was dropped off in a piazza and instructed to find my way to the hotel on foot. Fortunately, my luggage was being transported by young, nimble porters. However, as I set foot on the narrow, dusky, off-white stone-paved back alleys in the Barisano district, that first encounter with the Sassi on the hunt for my hotel was a wobbly one. Suitable footwear aside, it was a miracle I didn’t fall or get lost in that poorly state.
It didn’t take long to realize that Matera, the most ancient city in Europe (third-oldest in the world) is a place of miracles.
I approached the stairs towards the lobby of the Sassi Hotel, taken aback by the staggering view beyond the gate as the city unfolded in all its splendour welcoming me to this long-coveted destination.
After a hurried check-in, I entered my room, relieved I could finally rest and convalesce. I laid down and noticed outside from the tiny window of my quaint, quasi monastic cave dwelling, I had a direct view of the San Pietro Barisano Church belltower, which soars above the bee-hived city. It was comforting as I dozed off praying and hoping I would be well enough to see Matera beyond my room.
Nonna Ilde’s Legendary Sunday Ragù
Recipe & photography by Gabriel Riel-Salvatore, Managing Editor
Made with nothing but meat and puréed tomatoes, this is the ultimate ragù for meat lovers, just like my Nonna Ilde made for Sunday lunches. No garlic, onion, or basil—only tender lamb shanks, sliced lard, rich tomato sauce and irresistible meatballs. Nonna’s ragù was so iconic that we’d compete to see who could eat the most meatballs, while nonno savoured the lamb. For a winning touch, fry mini polpette as appetizers for the kids. More than just a meal, this dish is a nostalgic hug in a bowl, sparking laughter, stories and a little playful rivalry—an undeniable crowd-pleaser!
Next Generation Caffè
What’s Brewing in Italian Coffee Culture in Canada
By Cassandra Marsillo and Rita De Montis
In this issue, we’re spotlighting the new wave of Italian bars and cafés redefining italianità and Italian-Canadian culture. Rooted in traditions from Montreal, Toronto and Italy, these coffee shops honour their heritage while embracing modernity.
Once synonymous with cozy corners where old men played scopa to the croon of 1950s Italian tunes, today’s Italian coffee shops have undergone a renaissance.
The experience now attracts a new generation of enthusiasts passionate about the bean’s origin, roasting methods and the barista’s craft. Yet, the essence remains the same—a warm invitation to sip, connect and celebrate culture.
