More than 2.3 million pilgrims attended audiences or celebrations with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican during 2012. • “Bold steps” are necessary to counter the “rising tide of aggressive posturing” between the United States and Iran, wrote Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des

Illegal immigrants who occupied the Vatican’s embassy in Paris are calling for support.

Pope Benedict XVI’s Twitter account, @Pontifex, attracted more than a million-and-a-half followers by the end of Dec. 12, its first day active. • Justice Magazine (www.justicemagazine.org), which covers national and international issues relating to the Catholic Church’s social teach

European media are reporting that Russia and the United States are preparing a joint ultimatum to President Bashar al-Assad through the special envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League, Lakhdar Brahimi, to encourage Assad to leave power “with dignity.” Washington and Moscow report

Christians renewed an appeal to the Sri Lankan government to defend religious freedom after the nation’s minority Christian community was shocked by an attack on a Protestant church. The attack occurred on Dec. 9, in Weeraketiya, an area in the southern province of Sri Lanka. A crowd of about

The preacher of the papal household offered a look at how to interpret Vatican II.