By Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ 2014-15 Christmas season celebrations will include exactly what he did a year earlier. Releasing the pope’s schedule Dec. 10, the Vatican said he would: — Celebrate Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 24.

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — The final report of a five-year, Vatican-ordered study of communities of women religious in the United States will be released by the Vatican Dec. 16. The top two officials of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY —Beatifying Blessed Paul VI at the concluding Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the family, Pope Francis praised the late pope as the “great helmsman” of the Second Vatican Council and founder of the synod, as well as a “humble …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — In official reports of the closed-door talks at the Synod of Bishops on the family, an emerging theme has been the call for a new kind of language more appropriate for pastoral care today. “Language appeared many, many times,” Basilian …

By Elise Harris CNA/EWTN News  VATICAN CITY — In a prayer vigil set before the opening of the synod of bishops, Pope Francis said we must be attentive to the signs of the times to see the needs of the family by listening, being open and looking to the Lord. …

By Andrea Gagliarducci CNA/EWTN News VATICAN CITY — The first woman ever to be appointed a member of a Vatican congregation explains that “women still have much to give to the Church with their personal charisma.” Sister Luzia Premoli, superior general of the Combonian Missionary Sisters, was appointed a member …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has placed a laicized papal ambassador under house arrest as he awaits a criminal trial for sexually abusing young boys. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, released a statement Sept. 23 regarding the case of former Archbishop …

By Beth Griffin Catholic News Service  NEW YORK — Peace is never achieved once and for all, but is the fruit of a daily quest for greater justice and respect for one another, the new papal nuncio to the United Nations said Sept. 15. For believers, it is not merely …

 Catholic News Agency ROME — The first “selfie” of retired pontiff Benedict XVI is making the rounds on social networks.

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — The Vatican called on Muslim leaders to condemn the “barbarity” and “unspeakable criminal acts” of Islamic State militants in Iraq, saying a failure to do so would jeopardize the future of interreligious dialogue.