Pope Francis:Christmas Message and Urbi et Orbi Blessing (Pope on balcony from 10.28 into video)

The video is silent prior to appearance of Pope Francis on balcony. The full text of the Pope's message is available in English at Vatican Radio

Christmas Midnight Mass-Pope Francis: Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness

“In this night, as the spirit of darkness enfolds the world, there takes place anew the event which always amazes and surprises us: the people who walk see a great light.”

In his homily during Christmas Midnight Mass, Pope Francis reflected on “the mystery of walking and seeing.” Walking, he said, brings to mind the whole of salvation history, beginning with Abraham, our father in faith. “From that time on, our identity as believers has been that of a people making its pilgrim way towards the promised land. This history has always been accompanied by the Lord!” And yet, the Pope said, “on the part of the people there are times of both light and darkness, fidelity and infidelity, obedience, and rebellion; times of being a pilgrim people and times of being a people adrift.” CONTINUE READING at (Vatican Radio)

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s Letter to the militant Italian atheist, Piergiorgio Odifreddi

In September, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica printed extracts of the letter whose full contents were published in Italian on Nov. 23 by the German-language agency Kath.net. The Pope Emeritus sent the letter in response to a book Odifreddi wrote in 2011 entitled Dear Pope, I’m Writing to You. The work was a critique of certain arguments and lines of thought found in Benedict’s theological writings, beginning with his 1967 volume Introduction to Christianity, and including his book Jesus of Nazareth, which he wrote as pope. Read Benedicts Response at National Catholic Register

Medjugorje:Apparition to Mirjana Dragičević - 2 December 2013