During the ceremony, the pope opened the Holy Door of the Cathedral for the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy.

It is most fitting that this visit occurred as Christians begin Advent, the season of preparation for God entering into the chaos of humanity.

Daily Advent reflections, day 1: Using St. Andrew as a model

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"Even when the powers of hell are unleashed, Christians must rise to the summons, their heads held high, and be ready to brave blows in this battle over which God will have the last word. And that word will be love and peace," the pope said in an evening homily Nov. 29 at Bangui's cathedral.

It all comes back to this: to wait upon the Lord. The promise has been made. And now, we wait.

Good Catholics embrace dialogue; it is only our latter-day cafeteria Catholics who think they can omit dialogue from their theology, piety and practice.

During Advent a few years ago, I composed meditations each morning on the day’s scriptural readings as I experienced the season. This Advent journal was my experiment, my practice as a writer and a seeker, to anchor myself before each day pulled me in all its directions. I began with Scripture

November has seen two modest but hopeful developments for those excluded from coverage under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

When a Lutheran woman married to a Catholic man asked Pope Francis what she and her husband could do to receive Communion together, the pope said he could not issue a general rule on shared Communion, but the couple should pray, study and then act according to their consciences.