December 25, 2015, Friday -- Pope's Christmas Message: Peace "Let us allow tears of repentance to fill our eyes and cleanse our hearts."—Pope Francis, today in Rome, as part of his Christmas Day message, delivered "Urbi et Orbi," that is, literally, "To the City (Rome) and to the world," from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica [...]
December 24, 2015, Thursday -- Tonight We Celebrate the Holy Exchange “The Son of God became man so that we might become God.” —St. Athanasius, De Incarnatione, 54, 3: PG 25, 192 "Recognize, O Christian, your dignity and, enabled to share in the divine nature, do not wish to relapse into your former base condition with [...]
Dear brothers and sisters, The Gospel for this Sunday of Advent highlights the person of Mary. We see her when, just after having conceived in faith the Son of God, she takes on the long trip from Nazareth of Galilee to the hill country of Judah, to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The Angel Gabriel had revealed [...]
Panettone translates as “a large loaf of bread.” Actually, it’s a large sweet bready cake with various creamy fillings, raisins and candied fruits; its dome is covered with toppings of different flavors. Panettone’s origins probably date back to the Roman Empire: ancient Romans sweetened a type of leavened cake with honey. During the Renaissance, it became [...]
"Adoration of the Magi" and "Christ on the Cross," by Benedetto Bonfili. British National Gallery, London A thought meditation on the meaning of the events we celebrate at Christmas, events which respond to the deepest desire of all men and women Once upon a time there lived this very tall Texan who travelled to [...]
On a visit to New York just before Christmas, our Art Editor Lucy Gordan visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and spoke with European Sculpture Curator Dr. Wolfram Koeppe. Dr. Koeppe, what exactly is your position at the Museum and how long have you worked here? Dr. Wolfram Koeppe: My title is Marina Kellen French Curator [...]
This Christmas, the Church will also be celebrating during the special “Holy Year of Mercy” called by Pope Francis. What does mercy mean to this Pope? A great deal, for he experienced mercy himself, and it changed him forever... “When I see the sick, the elderly, a caress comes spontaneously to me. A caress is... the [...]
A Special Christmas Appeal December 16, 2014 Dear friend, Greetings. At this Christmas time, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading my newsflashes and for your support over the years. I would also like to invite you to join with me as supporters and co-workers. We continue to publish Inside the Vatican [...]
In this exclusive interview, Pope Francis speaks about Christmas, hunger in the world, the suffering of children, the reform of the Roman Curia, women cardinals, the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), and his upcoming visit to the Holy Land. “For me Christmas is hope and tenderness....” Francis talks to La Stampa and Vatican Insider [...]
Pope Francis waves a he delivers his Christmas blessing (to the city and the world) form the central balcony at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 25. At St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis celebrates his first solemn Christmas midnight Mass as pontiff. Celebrating the first Christmas since his election, Pope Francis preached the [...]