In a gesture of closeness to those who lost loved ones and homes following several devastating earthquakes, Pope Francis baptized 13 babies from central Italy in a private ceremony.
International News
Outrage Over Gasoline Prices in Mexico
Mexican Catholic officials called for calm as angry protests over hikes in the government-set gasoline price consume the country.
Pope: Warm Hearts Heat Homeless
Looking out over St. Peter’s Square where icicles hung from usually bubbling fountains, Pope Francis prayed for the homeless.
Almost 4M Visitors Attended Papal Events in Jubilee Year
More than 3.9 million pilgrims visited and attended papal events, liturgies or prayer services during the Holy Year of Mercy in 2016, the Vatican said.
Maternal Instinct: Pope Francis Wants Church to Be a Loving Mother
A number of feast days over the Advent and Christmas seasons gave Pope Francis a fresh opportunity to pay homage to the world’s mothers and insist further on how and why he wants the entire Church to become more maternal.
Pope’s New Year Request: Do a Good Deed Daily
Whether the new year will be good or not depends on us choosing to do good each day, Pope Francis said.
Pope to Resume ‘Ad Limina’ Visits with World’s Bishops
For Pope Francis, the Year of Mercy will be followed by the Year of the “Ad Limina” Visits.
Pope’s New Year’s Eve
Pope Francis visits the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square after leading vespers on New Year’s Eve at the Vatican Dec. 31.
World Scarred by War, Greed Must Welcome Prince of Peace, Pope Says
The angels’ song that heralded the birth of Christ urges men and women to seek peace in a world divided by war, terrorism and greed, Pope Francis said.
A Baby in Bethlehem
A pilgrim from India holds her baby in front of a painting of the Mary and the Christ Child in the grotto of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank.