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Pope Benedict XVI prays at the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square after leading vespers in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Eve at the Vatican Dec. 31.

Despite evil, human beings are hard-wired for peace, pope says

VATICAN CITY - Welcoming in the new year, Pope Benedict XVI said that despite the injustice and violence in the world, every human being yearns for and is made for peace.

Italian flags blow in the breeze outside the presidential palace in Rome Dec. 22. When Italians go to the polls Feb. 24, the pope and other church officials will be watching closely.

Agenda for a year of faith: looking ahead at Pope Benedict's 2013

VATICAN CITY - Fortunetelling, like all occult practices, is strictly taboo at the Vatican; and prophecy is a rare gift among journalists. But Pope Benedict XVI's calendar for 2013 is already filling up with planned, probable or possible events. Here are 10 to watch for in the news during the coming year.

The canonization of St. Kateri Tekakwitha was one of the gifts bestowed on the Church this past year.

Let us share in our wonderful gifts

Below is the text of the annual Christmas message issued by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Fr. Yaw Acheampong, priest-chaplain at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, says experiencing the incarnate God in a hospital community at Christmas is a great gift.

Spiritual side of Christmas evident in hospital setting

TORONTO - As a priest-chaplain at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, people often want to know what it’s like to spend Christmas in a hospital community.

The life-sized Nativity scene outside St. Francis of Assisi parish is a tradition that dates back to the early 1970s.

St. Francis of Assisi tradition carries on

TORONTO - Since the early 1970s parishioners at downtown Toronto’s St. Francis of Assisi parish have honoured their namesake and Jesus Christ with a life-sized Nativity scene. 

The Musallam family puts final touches on a Christmas tree at their apartment in the West Bank city of Bethlehem Dec. 15. Christmastime for Christians in the Holy Land is family time -- with many attending services, presenting gifts, visiting friends and sharing traditional treats. Pictured with Rami Musallam and his wife, Loreen, are 8-year-old Ameer, 4-month-old Sarah, and Aram, 5.

In Holy Land, Christmas traditions include family, parades and Mass

JERUSALEM - The simmering smell of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in Catholic parishes

Fr. Eric Rodrigues, a priest in the Toronto archdiocese, will be saying Mass for the Buffalo Bills for the second year running as the Bills take over the Rogers Centre Dec. 16.

When the Bills come to play, priest helps them pray

TORONTO - The Buffalo Bills have been coming to play at Toronto’s Rogers Centre for the past five years, and each year the archdiocese of Toronto has done its part to make the players feel at home.

A Christmas tree decorates St. Peter's Square after a lighting ceremony at the Vatican Dec. 14. The 78-foot silver fir tree is from the Italian province of Isneria.

Christmas trees remind believers of light of Christ, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - The light of Christ has not dimmed over the past 2,000 years, but Christians today have an obligation to resist attempts to extinguish it

An altar server holds a copy of the new English translation of the Roman Missal during Mass. The new missal was used for the first time in churches across the nation on the first Sunday of Advent 2011.

New missal meets with American approval

WASHINGTON - A wide majority of Massgoers are satisfied with the new English translation of the Roman Missal introduced a year ago at Advent, a survey showed.

Jesuit Father Jose Funes, the head of the Vatican Observatory, gave his reassurances that the world will not end Dec. 21, 2012.

Vatican newspaper: World will end, but not because of Mayan calendar

VATICAN CITY - A papal astronomer gave his reassurances that the world will not end Dec. 21, 2012.

Pope Benedict XVI greets Carl A. Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, and his wife, Dorian, after making remarks at the conclusion of the opening Mass of the International Congress on the Church in America in St. Peter's Basilica at the V atican Dec. 9.

Pope: Americas need renewed missionary spirit, well-catechized laity

VATICAN CITY - The universal church needs Catholics in the Americas who are joyful missionaries

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