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The Christmas tree and “Sand Nativity” are seen after a tree-lighting ceremony in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 7.

Sand and tree add to Christmas spirit at the Vatican

VATICAN – The annual unveiling of the Vatican’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene brought some much-needed warmth to people’s hearts as winter approached.

The cardinals ending their service after five years as members are Australian Cardinal George Pell, 77; Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, 85, retired archbishop of Santiago, Chile; and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Congo, 79.

Three Roman Curia advisers end service on Pope's Council of Cardinals

VATICAN – Three members of Pope Francis' Council of Cardinals have officially ended their service as papal advisers on the reform of the Roman Curia.
Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square Dec. 9 at the Vatican.

Let's think of our own conversion to sow peace this Advent, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – Advent is a time for people to think about what they can change about themselves so that they can sow the seeds of peace, justice and fraternity in their daily lives, Pope Francis said.
Nuns and others stand next to a photograph of Bishop Pierre Claverie at his grave in St. Mary's Cathedral, where a vigil was held, in Oran, Algeria, Dec. 7. The vigil was to prepare for the Dec. 8 beatification of Bishop Claverie and a group of 18 others, who were martyred in the course of the Algerian civil war.

Algerian martyrs bear witness to Christian-Muslim peace, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – The lives of 19 religious men and women martyred during the Algerian civil war are a testament to God's plan of love and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, Pope Francis said.
A firefighter places a wreath on a tall statue of Mary overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Rome's firefighters have observed the tradition every year since 1857.

On the Feast of Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis asks Mary's care of refugees

ROME – In the heart of Rome, near streets of fancy shops already blinged out for Christmas shopping, Pope Francis prayed for Romans struggling to survive and for families in the city and around the world who face the same lack of welcome that Mary and Joseph experienced.
Pope Francis walks in front of a candle in memory of victims of sexual abuse as he visits St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin Aug. 25. Pope Francis apologized for clerical sexual abuse in Ireland but on the final day of the trip, he was accused of ignoring abuse by Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick.

Gay clergy must stay celibate or leave, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – In a book-length interview to be published next week, Pope Francis addressed gifts and challenges for clerical and religious vocations, among them the challenge of homosexuality in the clergy.
Rachel weeps for her children in this 1824 painting, The Massacre of the Innocents by François-Joseph Navez.

Questioning Faith: Rachel’s weeping brings a sign of peace

“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.” (Matthew 2:18, quoting Jeremiah 31:15)

People carry Syrian revolution flags and placards Sept. 14 during protests in Kafr Nabl, Syria.

Pope Francis leads prayers with Aid to the Church in Need for peace in 'tormented' Syria

VATICAN – Leading thousands of pilgrims in prayer, Pope Francis lit a candle in remembrance of the people of Syria, especially innocent children tormented by the country's eight-year conflict.
An image of Baruch from Gustave Doré's illustrations for La Grande Bible de Tours.

God's Word on Sunday: God’s hand is evident everywhere

Second Sunday in Advent (Year C) Dec. 9 (Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126; Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6)

Pope Francis leads an audience with faculty and staff of the Jesuits' International College of the Gesu at the Vatican Dec. 3. The pope, a Jesuit, told his brethren that they have to be lambs when fighting the wolves.

Do not fall into 'spiritual worldliness', clericalism, Pope Francis tells Jesuits

VATICAN – There is no growth without some form of crisis and no victory without a battle, Pope Francis told a group of Jesuits.
The Christmas tree is seen as Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 2. The pope lit an Advent candle as he launched the Christmas campaign, "Candles for Peace in Syria," an initiative of Aid to the Church in Need.

Advent is a time for vigilance, prayer, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – Christians can turn Christmas into a "pagan" or "mundane" holiday by focusing on the gifts and the tree rather than on the birth of Jesus and his promise to come again, Pope Francis said.
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