Sand nativity

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Dec. 7, 2018, Vatican City - St. Peter's Square with the newly illuminated Christmas tree.

Pope Francis explains symbolism of Vatican Christmas tree and sand nativity

Dec 7, 2018

By Courtney Mares

As the Vatican illuminated its 65-foot Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square Friday, Pope Francis shared the deeper meaning found... Read more

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Altar servers.

Sri Lankan cardinal mandates male-only altar servers in Colombo Archdiocese

Widows who are members of the Widows of Prayer gather together in community in various parts of the country. The group is headquartered in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and has grown since its founding in 1994 from five widows to 60, with eight candidates currently in discernment.

Widows of Prayer: How women who have lost their husbands are keeping the faith

A young girl hangs an ornament on the Christmas tree inside the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza.

PHOTOS: Gaza Catholic parish prepares for second Christmas under war

Pope Francis prays during Mass at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024

Pope Francis prays for victims as death toll in German Christmas market attack reaches 5

Catholic actor David Henrie and his wife, Maria, with children during their mission trip to Guatemala with Cross Catholic Outreach.

Catholic actor David Henrie says mission trip with Cross Catholic Outreach left big impact

Bassem Giacaman in his shop in Bethlehem in December 2024. The artisans in Bethlehem are almost all Christians. They primarily work with olive wood. Most of the businesses in Bethlehem are family businesses.

War, economic struggles threaten Bethlehem’s century-old crafts tradition

Pope Francis addresses cardinals and senior Vatican officials during his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia, Dec. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis warns against gossip, celebrates family life in Vatican Christmas messages

Former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro and 35 other people, including a Catholic priest, were charged by the country's Federal Police on Nov. 21, 2024, on suspicion of the crimes of violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.

Two arms of Brazilian bishops’ conference: Throw the book against alleged coup plotters

Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg in Germany.

German bishops respond to deadly Magdeburg market attack, call for prayer and peace

The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

A visual tour of the Holy Doors Pope Francis will open for the 2025 Jubilee

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