Stories for week of December 21, 2025

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Wednesday, Dec. 24

 India’s bishops condemn attacks on Christians, call for police protection at Christmas
 Pope calls for Christmas truce, criticizes Illinois governor for signing assisted-suicide bill
 Odisha bishop calls for low-key Christmas celebrations in solidarity with threatened farmers
 World Council of Churches’ Christmas message: ‘Holy Family, Holy Faith’
 Cardinal Tagle celebrates Mass for 30,000 in Dubai
 Your work, done with dedication, gives glory to the Lord, Pope tells Vatican employees
 Vatican prefect sees no future for the priesthood without fidelity
 Over 20 million pilgrims have visited Santa Maria Maggiore this year
 Vatican alters Pope Francis’s original schedule for closing of jubilee holy doors
 Holy Land Franciscan, in Vatican newspaper, laments Israeli treatment of Palestinian civilians

Released Tuesday, Dec. 23

 White House rebuffs bishops’ plea on immigration
 Holy Land custos issues Christmas message
 Pontiff approves new statute for Labor Office of the Apostolic See
 Cardinal Kasper reflects on Vatican II and its legacy
 Vatican, Muslim leaders host roundtable on religion and diplomacy
 Pope praises Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence of God
 Statue of Our Lady of Hope brought to St. Peter’s Basilica for Christmas
 Phoenix surpasses New York, Chicago to become nation’s 2nd-largest diocese
 Vietnamese refugee, a former Vatican official, named Arizona bishop
 Salesians poised to overtake Jesuits as largest male religious institute
 Foster peace and evangelize, Pope tells leaders of Salesian order

Released Monday, Dec. 22

 Foster missionary attitude, Pope urges Roman Curia [news analysis]
 Archbishop Coakley defends immigration stance in TV interview
 Priestly formation is key, Pope writes in new apostolic letter
 Catholic author reflects on interrogating Guantanamo prisoners
 Nigerian officials: all kidnapped school children are now free
 New Florida bishop’s parish has perpetual adoration, 68 hours of weekly Confession
 Papal preacher devotes final Advent sermon to the universality of salvation
 Surprise papal visit to Italian Senate library
 Jerusalem cardinal visits Gaza, vows to rebuild
 Vatican spokesman: Contemplate the Christ Child, and seek the ways of peace
 Vatican newspaper shines spotlight on ‘forgotten’ refugees fleeing Sudan
 Pope Leo hails St. Joseph’s example of ‘piety and charity, mercy and abandonment’
 Pontiff prays that young people understand importance of sacramental marriage, be open to life
 Pope, in final Saturday jubilee audience, says that ‘to hope is to generate’
 Peacemaking is the ‘quintessential Catholic action,’ Pope tells children of Catholic Action

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Wed24 December
Advent

December 24, Christmas Eve

Image for December 24, Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve marks the end of Advent. The liturgical texts express wholehearted confidence in the imminent coming of the Redeemer. There is much joyous expectation. Most families…

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