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Pope Benedict XVI poses with members of the Vatican's diplomatic corps during a meeting in the Sala Regia at the Vatican Jan. 7. The pope told foreign ambassadors that peace-building requires charity, religious liberty, and a proper understanding of huma n rights and openness to divine love.

Peace is impossible without openness to God, Pope tells diplomats

VATICAN CITY - Deploring war, civil conflict and poverty around the world, Pope Benedict XVI told foreign ambassadors assembled at the Vatican that peace-building requires charity, religious liberty, a proper understanding of human rights and openness to divine love.

Pope Benedict XVI accepts offertory gifts from a family during the ordination Mass for four new archbishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 6. The archbishops ordained were: Nicolas Thevenin, apostolic nuncio to Guatemala; Georg Ganswein, pre fect of the papal household and the pope's personal secretary; Fortunatus Nwachukwu, nuncio to Nicaragua; and Angelo Zani, the new secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Bishops must stand firm in truth to lead people to Christ, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - In their task of leading people to the light of Christ, bishops must have the courage to face opposition and peacefully stand firm in the truth, Pope Benedict XVI said.

The mothers of priests and seminarians deserve the thanks of the whole church for raising their sons in the faith and supporting them in their vocations, said Cardinal Mauro Piacenza.

Vatican official thanks mothers of priests, asks for their prayers

VATICAN CITY - The mothers of priests and seminarians deserve the thanks of the whole church for raising their sons in the faith and supporting them in their vocations, said Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy.

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

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