Catholic News Service

Just some CNS odds and ends.

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The traditional Christmas tree and Nativity scene were lit tonight in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Turn up the volume and watch our short video. Plus you can read what Pope Francis said today about the symbolism of the soaring tree and its lights by copying and pasting this link: https://wp.me/p5DZKA-43L (CNS video via Wibbitz) #StPetersSq #stpeterssquare #vatican #vaticancity #vaticano #PopeFrancis #Christmas #Christmastree #Nativity #Nativityscene (at Piazza San Pietro - Vaticano, Roma, Italia)

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A couple takes a selfie from the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem's Old City Dec. 6. In an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, Christian leaders in Jerusalem said U.S. recognition of the city as the capital of Israel could have dire regional consequences. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill) #Jerusalem #MountofOlives #HolyLand (at Mount Of Olives)

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Pope Francis poses for a photo with a newly married couple during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 6. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #vatican #vaticancity #vaticano #PopeFrancis #generalaudience #pope #newlyweds (at Paul VI Audience Hall)

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Is St. Nicholas going to visit you tonight? He is depicted here in a stained-glass window at Blessed Sacrament Church in Bolton Landing, N.Y. The feast of St. Nicholas -- a fourth-century bishop from the region of modern-day Turkey, well known for his generosity -- is celebrated Dec. 6. (CNS file photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) #StNicholas #Santa #SantaClaus #FeastofStNicholas #BoltonLandingNY #stainedglass #stainedglasswindow (at Bolton Landing, New York)

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Pope Francis wears a garland as he arrives to celebrate Mass and the ordination of priests in Suhrawardy Udyan park in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #Bangladesh #PopeFrancis #PopeinBangladesh #rickshaw #popemobile #Dhaka (at Dhaka, Bangladesh)

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Pope Francis rides in a rickshaw as he arrives for an interreligious and ecumenical meeting for peace in the garden of the archbishop's residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #Bangladesh #PopeFrancis #PopeinBangladesh #rickshaw #popemobile #Dhaka (at Dhaka, Bangladesh)

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Aung San Suu Kyi, state counselor and foreign minister of Myanmar, greets Pope Francis during a meeting with government authorities, members of civil society and the diplomatic corps at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Nov. 28. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #Myanmar #PopeFrancis #PopeinMyanmar #PopeinBurma #AungSanSuuKyi (at Myanmar International Convention Center (M.I.C.C))

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Aung San Suu Kyi, state counselor and foreign minister of Myanmar, greets Pope Francis as he arrives for a meeting with government authorities, members of civil society and the diplomatic corps at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Nov. 28. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #Myanmar #PopeFrancis #PopeinMyanmar #PopeinBurma #AungSanSuuKyi (at Myanmar International Convention Center (M.I.C.C))

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Pope Francis greets a boy during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 22. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #StPetersSq #stpeterssquare #vatican #vaticancity #vaticano #PopeFrancis #generalaudience #pope (at Piazza San Pietro - Vaticano, Roma, Italia)

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Pope Francis gestures as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 22. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #StPetersSq #stpeterssquare #vatican #vaticancity #vaticano #PopeFrancis #generalaudience #pope (at Piazza San Pietro - Vaticano, Roma, Italia)

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Pope Francis eats lunch with the poor in the Paul VI hall after celebrating Mass marking the first World Day of the Poor at the Vatican Nov. 19. Some 1,200 poor people joined the pope for the meal. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #vatican #vaticancity #vaticano #PopeFrancis #WorldDayofthePoor (at Paul VI Audience Hall)

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Pope Francis prays over a boy during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 15. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #StPetersSq #stpeterssquare #vatican #vaticancity #vaticano #PopeFrancis #generalaudience #pope (at Piazza San Pietro - Vaticano, Roma, Italia)

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Pope John Paul I meets Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, in this 1978 photo. Pope Francis has advanced the sainthood cause of Pope John Paul I with a decree recognizing his heroic virtues. John Paul I was pope for only 33 days before his death, in September 1978, led to the historic election of the Polish-born Cardinal Wojtyla, who took the name John Paul II to honor his predecessor. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters) PopeFrancis #PopeJohnPaul #TheSmilingPope #AlbinoLuciani #Luciani #popes #CatholicChurch #Catholicism #Wojtyla #KarolWojtyla (at Vatican City)

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The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis has recognized the heroic virtues of Pope John Paul I, the first major step on the path to sainthood for "the smiling pope" who only served 33 days in 1978. (CNS video) #PopeFrancis #PopeJohnPaul #TheSmilingPope #AlbinoLuciani #Luciani #popes #CatholicChurch #Catholicism (at Vatican City)

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A cell phone camera captures Domenico Giani, commander of the Vatican police force, and Pope Francis during the pope's meeting with religious at the cathedral in Naples, Italy, March 21, 2015. The pope, at his Nov. 8 general audience, said it's "an awful thing" for people to take cellphone photos of him while celebrating Mass. (CNS photo/@paul.haring) #PopeFrancis #Vatican #Naples (at Naples, Italy)

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#Repost @paul.haring (@get_repost) ・・・ Pope Francis places roses in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, Nov. 2, the feast of All Souls. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) #prayer #catholics #vatican #military #militarycemetery #papafrancesco (at Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial)

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Sisters of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara share a light moment with novices at Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Catholic Church in Washington prior to the start of their profession of vows ceremony Nov. 1. National Vocations Awareness Week is Nov. 5-11. (CNS photo/@tylerorsburn) #sisters #vows #novices #nuns #religious #religiouswomen #vocations #NationalVocationsAwarenessWeek (at Holy Comforter Saint Cyprian Roman Catholic Church)