A large crowd greets Pope Francis as he arrives for an audience in mid-June in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. More than 3.2 million pilgrims visited and attended papal events, liturgies or prayer services at the Vatican in 2015, the Vatican said.

Vatican says 3.2 million pilgrims visited in 2015

VATICAN CITY - More than 3.2 million pilgrims visited and attended papal events, liturgies or prayer services at the Vatican in 2015, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis surprises family with Christmastime call

Pope Francis surprises family with Christmastime call

Part of the appeal and notoriety that Pope Francis gained during the first two years of his pontificate came from his penchant for using his cellphone to call people out of the blue, from a struggling single mother to his cobbler back in Argentina to an ostracized bishop, and even the odd journalist.

Pope Francis speaks after delivering his blessing.

Families must open home to God or selfishness will reign, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - Families need to open their doors to God and his love or they will harbor an individualism that endangers peace and joy, Pope Francis said on the feast of the Holy Family.

Pope Benedict XVI greets Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, during his visit to the main synagogue in Rome in this Jan. 17, 2010, file photo. Pope Francis will visit the same synagogue Jan. 17, 2016.

Jubilee spree: Year of Mercy beefs up Pope's already busy year

VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis established the Year of Mercy, a full slate of Jubilee events were slotted into his already packed calendar for 2016.

Pope Francis greets people during an audience to exchange Christmas greetings with Vatican employees in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 21.

Pope to Vatican employees: Take care of your marriage, grandparents

VATICAN CITY - Take care of your marriage and aging parents, play with your kids, and always make peace at the end of the day, Pope Francis told Vatican employees and their families.

Pope Francis talks with a bishop during the traditional Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Dec. 21.

Seasonal checkup: Pope prescribes spiritual virtues to fight curial ills

VATICAN CITY - If Pope Francis sees the Church as a field hospital after battle, then his annual Christmas address to the Roman Curia often looks like the triage tent, with him holding the charts.

Bishop William F. Murphy

'Nostra Aetate' described as living, vibrant process that must endure

UNITED NATIONS - Fifty years after its promulgation, the Catholic Church retains a solid and irrevocable commitment to the Second Vatican Council's declaration on its relations with non-Christian religions.

Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus are depicted in a wooden creche at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester, N.Y., in this Nov. 24 photo.

God blesses us when we undertake to do good

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Year C) Dec. 27 (1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Psalm 84; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52)

Hannah’s fervent prayer had been answered. During a previous visit to the shrine at Shiloh, she had stood before the shrine and prayed to God for a child. Her murmured prayers earned her an unjust rebuke from Eli the prophet, who accused her of drunkenness. Hannah promised that if God blessed her with a son, she would dedicate him in service to the Lord. Now she fulfilled her promise as she brought her son Samuel — who would grow up to be a great prophet — to Eli for training and instruction.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Christmas tree are seen following a lighting ceremony at the Vatican Dec. 18.

Being ready for Christmas

Many of us arrive at Christmas tired, running, distracted and already fatigued with the lights, songs and celebrations of Christmas. Advent is meant to be a time of preparation for Christmas; but for many of us it is not exactly a time for the kind of preparation that enables Christ to be born more deeply in our lives. Instead our preparation for Christmas is mostly a time of making ready to celebrate with our families, friends and colleagues.

Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 20. The pope at his Angelus endorsed a recent U.N. resolution laying out a road map for peace in Syria.

Pope Francis praises road map for peace in Syria

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis endorsed a recent UN resolution on peace in Syria and expressed "deep appreciation" to the international community for reaching an agreement.

Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus are depicted in a wooden creche

Creche is reminder God saves people with love, not force, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - Seeing baby Jesus in the Nativity scene reminds people that Christ uses humility and love to save the world, not impressive force or a magic wand, Pope Francis said.

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