Montreal, October 16, 2025 – More than sixty people filled the hall for the conference “Mary’s Gaze in a Polarized World”, hosted by the Fondation du Grand Séminaire de Montréal on October 11, 2025.

The event brought together bishops, members of religious communities, donors, and distinguished guests, including His Excellency Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, and the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal, representing the Italian Ambassador.

The keynote speaker, Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, offered a deeply spiritual reflection on how Mary’s perspective can illuminate a world marked by division and fear.

"Mary has always been one of my favorite subjects," said Cardinal Leo. "To contemplate Christ with and through Mary’s eyes helps us see the world differently — with hope, gratitude, and mercy. Mary is at once our mother, companion, and guide. She does not remain distant from our human realities: she inhabits them with tenderness and clarity."

Cardinal Leo addressed the challenge of polarization as both a spiritual and social concern:

"We live in a world where the identity of others often feels threatening, and authentic dialogue is increasingly rare," he observed. "Yet genuine conversation within our communities is essential, as is the synodal spirit that calls us to walk together. The path to healing the world begins with healing the eyes of our hearts."

Drawing on the teachings of Saint Augustine and Saint John Paul II, Cardinal Leo described Mary’s gaze as “a spiritual roadmap for a wounded world, a path toward peace and unity, inviting everyone to see with hearts open to compassion, hope, and fidelity.”

For Alexandrina Diac, Executive Director of the Fondation du Grand Séminaire de Montréal and organizer of the event, the conference achieved its mission:

"Seeing a full hall for such a profound and timely theme demonstrates that the desire for meaning, dialogue, and lived faith is very much alive," she said. "The Fondation aims to continue this work of openness and reflection, bringing diverse voices together around what unites us."

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

The recording will be available in the coming days on the Fondation’s YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/ybOmjXJyN5E?si=lmxHYQAsfT8lFOZw