Notre Dame kept Christmas going even during two world wars — a beacon of hope amid the bloodshed. Yet an accidental fire in peacetime finally stopped the Paris cathedral from celebrating Midnight Mass this year, for the first time in over two centuries.

The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president's political opponents," he wrote.

Some 800 students met Pope Francis there Dec. 20; he was ready to listen to their questions and offer his reflections.

Speaking to the group of diplomats, the pope dedicated his brief talk to "the path to peace"

The group, which included 14 children and teens, arrived in Rome from the Greek island of Lesbos Dec. 4.

President López Obrador's party and allies control both houses of Mexico's Congress