In a year filled with good news and bad, more than a few Catholics stood out in the crowd (for better or for worse).

The pope, who celebrated his 85th birthday on Dec. 17, is not planning to slow down — and there appears to be no resignation or conclave on the horizon.

Covid-19, the 2020 election and racial justice remained hot topics in 2021. But the past year also brought new debates within the Catholic Church, including over the Latin Mass.

“The Word became flesh in order to dialogue with us,” he insisted. “God does not desire to carry on a monologue, but a dialogue. For God himself—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—is dialogue, an eternal and infinite communion of love and life.”

The pope’s talk was aimed at promoting a synodal culture, rooted in humility, at the heart of the central government of the church.

The 75-year-old Canadian Jesuit will replace Cardinal Peter Turkson on an interim basis.