Vatican

Jesus entering the world as a little baby in need of everything is a sign of God’s solidarity with every person in need, longing for love and a helping hand, Pope Leo XIV said at Christmas morning Mass.

Celebrating almost six decades of Catholic-Methodist theological dialogue, the Vatican publishing house has released a book summarizing the issues dialogue members have agreed on and briefly outlined the issues where work is ongoing.

The Vatican’s fat red yearbook, known as the Annuario Pontificio, will now be available and updated regularly on an app and online.

From Jan. 10 to Feb. 1, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will host “Vatican Unveiled,” an exhibit of the largest collection of papal artifacts outside of Rome, in celebration of the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. spoke at the Jubilee of Justice in Rome which brought together thousands of judges, lawyers, prosecuting attorneys, law professors and canon lawyers from some 100 nations.

Pope Leo XIV formally suppressed two dioceses in China and erected a new one, which already had been operating without the Vatican’s consent.

Most churches in Italy will soon be replacing the metal shield of the coat of arms of Pope Francis that adorned their facade with Pope Leo XIV’s shield; however, Vatican gardeners have already made the switch.

As tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square and throughout Vatican City, watch parties popped up on the campuses of Saint John’s University, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary.