IMAGE: CNS photo/Maurizio Brambatti, EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — More than 3.2 million pilgrims visited and attended papal events, liturgies or prayer services at the Vatican in 2015, the Vatican said. The statistics, released Dec. 30, were compiled by the Prefecture of the Papal Household, which …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Kate Munsch, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called on Christians to pray for victims of several natural disasters that have hit parts of the United States, Great Britain and Paraguay. “I invite you to pray for the victims of disasters that in …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Christmas season is a time to learn from baby Jesus to let go of selfishness and be humble and giving as he is, Pope Francis said. In fact, people should take the little figurine of Jesus from …

IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By TRENTON, N.J. (CNS) — New Jersey’s Catholic bishops called on people of faith and “of goodwill” to “go beyond their comfort zone” and renew their commitment to caring for immigrants, refugees and the poor. Expressing concern that the newcomers to the United States have been largely overlooked …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Wu Hong, EPA By HONG KONG (CNS) — When Chinese Minister of Housing Chen Zhenggao traveled to bustling Yiwu in mid-October, news reports said he told housing and law enforcement officials to “battle against illegal constructions” by learning from Zhejiang. Zhejiang has used the pretext of illegal building …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Judith Sudilovsky JERUSALEM (CNS) — On Christmas Eve, the entrance to the West Jerusalem YMCA was decked out in colorful lights against the night sky, and a Christmas tree sparkling with ornaments stood in the lobby. Jewish Israelis and international visitors, guests at the YMCA’s …

By Zoey Di Mauro BURKE, Va. (CNS) — Mary Susan Burnett-Miller was reading a magazine in a laundromat while on vacation in July when she read about the desires of a homeless man named T-Bone. The story she was reading originated in Ventura, California, where years earlier a group of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Ettore Ferrari, EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Families need to open their doors to God and his love or they will harbor an individualism that endangers peace and joy, Pope Francis said on the feast of the Holy Family. Recognizing and encouraging the importance of …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christmas is a reminder that through the birth of Christ, hope and peace are possible and that only through his grace can humanity find peaceful solutions to the world’s most difficult problems, Pope Francis said. “Only God’s mercy can …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Dan Meloy, The Michigan Catholic By Dan Meloy HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (CNS) — Holiday traditions and rituals are a vital part of each family’s Christmas celebration. When celebrating the birth of Jesus, many Catholic families have their own customs passed down for centuries through the generations, and this is …