BERLIN – As traditional family holiday celebrations continued with the coming of the New Year, an official with the German bishops' conference encouraged Catholic families to read Pope Francis' exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia ("The Joy of Love").

VATICAN CITY – After 12 people were killed when a truck rammed into crowds at a Berlin Christmas market, the German bishops have voiced their sorrow, and have invited people to join them in praying for the victims and their families.