On Oct. 11, His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo invited the audience at the Grand Séminaire de Montréal to see the world through Mother Mary’s eyes. Organized by Seminary’s Foundation, the conference, “Mary’s Gaze in a Polarized World,” brought together bishops, members of religious communities, donors, and several guests of honor – including His Excellency Ivan Jurkovič, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, and the director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal, representing the Italian ambassador.

Cardinal Leo was the keynote speaker, offering a deeply spiritual reflection on how Mary's gaze can enlighten a world marked by division and fear.

“Mary is one of my favorite subjects,” explained Cardinal Leo. “Contemplating Christ with and through Mary's eyes helps us see the world differently — with hope, gratitude, and mercy. Mary is our mother, our companion, and our guide. She does not live far from our human realities: she inhabits them with tenderness and lucidity."

Cardinal Leo addressed the theme of polarization as a major spiritual and social issue: “We live in a world where the identity of the other seems threatening, where dialogue has become rare,” he emphasized. "Yet authentic dialogue within our communities is essential, as is the synodal spirit that urges us to walk together. The path to healing the world begins with healing the eyes of our hearts. "

Drawing inspiration from the teachings of St. Augustine and St. John Paul II, he recalled that Mary's gaze is "a spiritual roadmap for a wounded world, a path to peace and unity, where everyone is invited to adopt the eyes of the heart, open to seeing with compassion, hope, and fidelity.

For Alexandrina Diac, Executive Director of the Grand Séminaire de Montréal Foundation and organizer of the event, this conference fully fulfilled its mission: “Seeing a full house for such a profound and timely topic shows that the need for meaning, dialogue, and lived faith remains very much alive,” she said. The Foundation wishes to continue this mission of openness and reflection by bringing together diverse voices around what unites us."

The conference concluded with a period of discussion and a Mass of Thanksgiving presided over by Cardinal Leo, in an atmosphere marked by gratitude and hope.

The recording will be made available in the coming days on the Foundation's YouTube account.