Christians must actively seek ways to bridge the gap between rich and poor created by growing inequality and foster pathways of solidarity, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis has decided to include Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples among the prelates he will make cardinals Dec. 7, the Vatican press office said.

The “small yet vibrant church” in Estonia has been a source of compassion and spiritual sustenance for countless people in the Baltic nation, Pope Francis said.

The guiding principle of love extolled by Jesus cuts through confusion around how to uphold God’s commandments to humanity, Pope Francis said.

Remembering the cardinals and bishops who died in the past year, Pope Francis prayed that after their loving service to the Catholic Church “they may exult in eternal communion with the saints.”

Pope Francis prayed at the graves of children and of miscarried babies on the feast of All Souls before concelebrating Mass with several hundred mourners.

God wants everyone to be a saint, and the clearest path to achieving that goal is loving service to others, Pope Francis said.

A unique school at the Vatican dedicated to encouraging young people to practice traditional crafts and skills that risk dying out has accepted a student from the United States to attend its specialized courses.

With the Holy Year 2025 beginning on Christmas Eve, the Vatican’s 2024 Christmas stamps feature the Jubilee message of hope as well as a prayer for peace.

Approximately 40,000 visitors enter St. Peter’s Basilica each day, and now they can gain deeper insights into what they are seeing inside the world’s largest church.