Chilling rain and the “City of Lights” completely locked down due to high profile guests did not stop the crowds from arriving as close to Notre Dame Cathedral as possible for its inaugural Mass celebrated Dec. 8.

"At times, in our spiritual lives and our pastoral activity, we risk focusing on what is incidental and forgetting what is essential."

The new Vatican dashboard allows users to see a map of where current cardinals are from, as well as the percentage of cardinals from each region eligible to vote in conclave.

Over five years after Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris burned, the faithful will celebrate its reopening as it returns for the second weekend of Advent.

Pope Francis received a new, emission-free, all-electric popemobile from representatives of Mercedes-Benz, the German car manufacturer that has been supplying vehicles for the popes for nearly 100 years.

At a general audience, Pope Francis said that homilies should run under 10 minutes and be guided by the Holy Spirit.