The St. Nicholas National Shrine next to the World Trade Center memorial plaza was to replace a tiny church obliterated when the trade center's south tower fell in 2001.

In Europe, Christmas is being stripped of its true nature "in the name of a false respect for those who are not Christian."

The pope took particular aim at areas of global tension where President Donald Trump is playing a critical role.

Standing on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on a clear, crisp Christmas day, Pope Francis spoke about the world's children before formally giving his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).

“So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary,” Pope Francis said. “We see the tracks of entire families forced to set out in our own day.”

A Roman Catholic priest in Milwaukee has come out as gay, writing that he will no longer live in the shadows of secrecy and plans to be authentic to his gay self.