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.
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.
Pope expresses grief over Newtown shooting, calls for acts of peace
VATICAN CITY - After 20 children and six adults were shot dead in Connecticut, Pope Benedict XVI offered
Solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires talks, pope says
Updated 12/18/12
VATICAN CITY - Just weeks after the Vatican praised Palestine’s boosted status as a non-member observer state
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
The good, bad, ugly: Church can't shy away from Twitter's Wild West
VATICAN CITY - With Pope Benedict XVI's new presence on Twitter, people from all over the world can now post papal messages with just the push of an on-screen button.
Pope launches Twitter account, tweets to more than 1 million followers
Updated 12/12/12
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI launched his very own Twitter account, sending a short inaugural message to his more than 1 million followers.
Pope: Americas need renewed missionary spirit, well-catechized laity
Gospel is good news of freedom from sin, selfishness, death, Pope says
Catholic beliefs are not open to popular vote, pope says
VATICAN CITY - When the Catholic Church affirms the importance of how all the faithful understand matters of faith and morals, it is not saying Catholic beliefs are open to a popular vote, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Pope names Chatlain new archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas
OTTAWA - Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Murray Chatlain of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, to be the new archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas, Man.
Advent is time to renew faith, bring God's love to others, pope says
VATICAN CITY - Advent's liturgical preparation for Christmas calls Christians to renew their faith in the reality of God's great love and to make a commitment to bringing his love to the world today, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Pope calls for world authority as 'moral force'
VATICAN CITY - The world authority envisioned by two popes as a way to ensure global peace and justice would not be a superpower, but primarily a moral force with limited jurisdiction, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Pope makes new rules to strengthen charities' Catholic identity
VATICAN CITY - Warning that Catholic charitable activity must not become "just another form of organized social assistance," Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules to strengthen the religious identity of Catholic charities and ensure that their activities conform to church teaching.
With @Pontifex, Pope reaches out to new kind of followers
VATICAN CITY - To celebrate the launch of his new Twitter account, Pope Benedict XVI will tweet the answers to a handful of questions from his followers.