Bishop Brennan was one of nearly 40 bishops in Rome for a regularly scheduled series of meetings with the pope

For more than a year, he has faced questions about how he has addressed the clergy sex abuse crisis.

"When, at Christmas, we place the statue of the Infant Jesus in the manger, the nativity scene suddenly comes alive. God appears as a child, for us to take into our arms," the pope said.

The bishops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey discussed sexual abuse with Pope Francis in a Thanksgiving Day meeting as part of their ad limina visit.

The Vatican said Nov. 18 the pope would name a successor succeed AIF's former president, Rene Bruelhart, following the end of his five-year term.

'The Two Popes' tells a detailed story of the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. But does it have all the facts right?