Returning for its third season comes “Hark!”—a podcast from America Media about the stories behind our favorite Christmas carols.

Marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi putting together the first Christmas crèche in a cave in Greccio, Italy, the Vatican publishing house compiled texts by Pope Francis about Nativity scenes.

From unwrapping unwanted presents to burning fossil fuel to power millions of Christmas lights, the commemoration of the humble birth of Jesus comes at a significant expense to the environment.

I have learned to take Christmas carols seriously and to anticipate the epiphanies they may bear in my spiritual life.

Throughout the waiting house We’ve strewn our mangers. Maybe This year we’ll find one baby.

On “Inside the Vatican” this week, veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and host Colleen Dulle give an update on the former pope’s health. The rest of the podcast looks at three of Pope Francis’ Christmas messages.