Cardinal Leo

A Catholic Register special section

Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, was called to the College of Cardinals on October 6, 2024, just under two years after being made Toronto's bishop. Leo was formally elevated to the rank of cardinal in Rome on December 7, 2024.

Photo from Archdiocese of Toronto

Family values ingrained in Cardinal Leo

Based on the personal recollections of Toronto's Cardinal Francis Leo, the only period of his life when he didn’t feel a call to religious life was when he was a young child growing up in the Villeray neighbourhood near Montreal’s Little Italy.

Cardinal finds strength in prayer, Mary, Canadian supporters

Describing the Papal Consistory that welcomed him and 20 other leaders of the Catholic Church into the College of Cardinals as “very profound” and “beautiful,” Cardinal Francis Leo of the Archdiocese of Toronto has deeply contemplated the prayers recited during the Dec. 7 ceremony in the Vatican.

Toronto's Archbishop elevated along with 20 other Cardinals

Standing in communion alongside brother bishops from Argentina, Ecuador, Iran, Serbia and a rich assemblage of other nations, Toronto's Archbishop Francis Leo was elevated to the College of Cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica today.

Cardinal Leo will rely on grace of Christ

A spirit of gratitude radiated out of Toronto's new Cardinal Francis Leo — as vivid as the red cassock adorning him — as he entered a Dec. 7 reception at the Spazio Vittoria event space several hours after being elevated to the College of Cardinals.

December 9, 2024

From cardinal to cardinal: just do it

Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, has the same advice for Toronto's new Cardinal Francis Leo that he would share with parishes seeking to carve its synodal path: do.

December 9, 2024

Longtime friends laud Leo's authenticity

Longtime Montreal married Catholics John and Cecilia Zucchi’s road in life has more than 20 times led to Rome.

December 9, 2024

Even in high school, Leo was 'Fr. Frank'

Even as a student attending John F. Kennedy High School in Montreal, now Cardinal Francis Leo was called “Fr. Frank.”

December 9, 2024

There's always something special about a new cardinal

Fr. Robert Gendreau said it does not take long for people to realize that there is something special about Cardinal Francis Leo.

December 7, 2024

Leo vows to 'suffer for the sake of the Gospel'

In the presence of cardinals, bishops, priests, laity, colleagues, friends and family, Cardinal-elect Leo pledged a Dec. 6 welcome reception and dinner for the Canadian delegation to live up to the vows he will take at the Papal Consistory on Dec. 7.

December 6, 2024

Cardinal-elect Leo cherishing the moment

In October, when he was invited to join the College of Cardinals, Cardinal-elect Francis Leo said he would discern how this elevation could help him become an even better servant for the Archdiocese of Toronto and beyond.

December 9, 2024

From cardinal to cardinal: just do it

Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, has the same advice for Toronto's new Cardinal Francis Leo that he would share with parishes seeking to carve its synodal path: do.

December 9, 2024

Even in high school, Leo was 'Fr. Frank'

Even as a student attending John F. Kennedy High School in Montreal, now Cardinal Francis Leo was called “Fr. Frank.”

December 7, 2024

Leo vows to 'suffer for the sake of the Gospel'

December 9, 2024

Longtime friends laud Leo's authenticity

Longtime Montreal married Catholics John and Cecilia Zucchi’s road in life has more than 20 times led to Rome.

December 9, 2024

There's always something special about a new cardinal

Fr. Robert Gendreau said it does not take long for people to realize that there is something special about Cardinal Francis Leo.

December 6, 2024