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.

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.

Let us share in our wonderful gifts

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

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.

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. 

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

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

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.

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

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.

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: Americas need renewed missionary spirit, well-catechized laity

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