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Pope Francis greets one of eight poor people at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 17, the pope's 78th birthday. A group of the poor were invited to the audience in celebration of the pope's birthday.

First showers, now sleeping bags: Pope Francis’ birthday gift to the homeless

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis marked his 78th birthday by giving hundreds of sleeping bags to the homeless in Rome, Vatican officials said Dec. 18.

Pope Francis is greeted by 13 new ambassadors to the Holy See as they present their letters of credential at the Vatican Dec. 18. During the special audience, the pope expressed his joy over the historic turning point in U.S.-Cuba relations as the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic ties after half a century.

Pope Francis takes a victory lap after brokering U.S.-Cuba breakthrough

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis welcomed the renewal of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba Dec. 18, saying he was happy to see an end to a half-century standoff between the two nations.

Abraham’s leap of faith bore much fruit

Abraham’s leap of faith bore much fruit

Holy Family (Year B) Dec. 28 (Genesis 15:1-6; 17:3b-5, 15-16; 21:1-7; Psalm 105; Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Luke 2:22-40)

Even though Abraham is our father in faith because he trusted in God, that faith was sorely tested. Abraham had left everything behind — his land, kin and security — and became a wanderer, going wherever God led him.

While the holy family rest on the way to Egypt, Joseph bends over a palm tree to provide them with dates. Engraving by F. Brivio after A. Allegri, il Correggio.

Christmas’ checkered origins and sequence

If someone who had never heard the story of Jesus were to ask about His origins, we would, I suspect, begin with the story of His annunciation and birth and end with the story of His resurrection and ascension. While that does capture His life, that’s not how the Gospels either begin or end His story. The story of Jesus and the meaning of Christmas can only really be understood by looking at where Jesus came from, His family tree, and by looking at how His story has continued in history. Indeed, that’s how the Gospels tell His story.

Pope Francis attends a special audience with members of the German Evangelical-Lutheran Church at the Vatican Dec. 18.

Christians can't ignore differences on life issues, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - Christianity has something to say about human dignity, and "it would be a shame" if differing positions on the sanctity of all human life or on marriage were to increase the divisions among Christian churches and communities, Pope Francis said.

Worshippers at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral light candles for the victims of the Martin Place siege Dec. 16. Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney tried to help comfort the people of the city during the Mass.

Pope decries 'inhuman terrorist acts' in Australia, Pakistan and Yemen

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis decried the "inhuman terrorist acts" that killed scores of people the previous day in Australia, Pakistan and Yemen.

Sister Sharon Holland, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, second from left, receives applause after speaking at a Dec. 16 Vatican press conference for release of the final report of a Vatican-ordered investigation of U.S. communit ies of women religious. From left are: Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; Sister Holland; Sister Agnes Mary Donovan, coordinator of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious; and Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman. The 5,000 word report summarizes problems and challenges the women see in their communities and thanks them for their service. The visitation was carried out between 2009 and 2012.

Vatican seeks to bury the hatchet with American nuns

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican ended a six-year inquiry into U.S. nuns with a report designed to bury their differences and celebrate their contribution to the Catholic Church.

Father Frank Pavone, one of the country's most visible and vocal opponents of abortion, has been suspended from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, over financial questions about the priest's operation of Priests for Life. The suspension was made public in a Sept. 13 letter by Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek. Father Pavone is pictured speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court building in Washington in this Nov. 8, 2006, file photo.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan cuts ties with anti-abortion crusader Frank Pavone

NEW YORK - In the latest clash between the Catholic hierarchy and one of the church’s leading anti-abortion crusaders, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan accused the Fr. Frank Pavone of continuing to stonewall on financial reforms, and Dolan said he is cutting ties with his group, Priests for Life.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa

Destroy hatred, not enemies, to bring peace, papal preacher says

VATICAN CITY - Peace does not come from wiping out enemies, it comes from destroying all hatred with prayer, dialogue and friendship, including in the Church and within the Roman Curia, said the preacher of the papal household.

A monstrance fished from Loch Raven Reservoir in Maryland is the centerpiece of a new adoration chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.

Monstrance fished from reservoir centerpiece of new adoration chapel

BALTIMORE - A man fishing at the Loch Raven Reservoir in north Baltimore County some two decades ago was convinced he had snagged a big fish after his line hooked something substantial.

Let us be servants of the Lord

Let us be servants of the Lord

We are often eager to do favours for others without considering how they might feel about it. Do they really want or need what we have in mind? Are we satisfying our own needs under the guise of being openhanded and generous? This is even more the case when God is the recipient of our favours and gifts.

Does God want or need what we offer?

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