Vatican City, Dec 15, 2020 / 05:00 am (CNA).- Vatican City will begin to offer coronavirus vaccinations in January, according to the Vatican director of health and hygiene. 

“We believe it is very important that even in our small community a vaccination campaign against the virus responsible for COVID-19 is started as soon as possible,” Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, head of the Vatican health service, told Vatican News.

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2020 / 09:00 am (CNA).- Pope Francis urged Saturday the adoption of a “climate of care,” and said the Vatican City State is committed to reducing its net emissions to zero by 2050.

Speaking in a video message during the virtual Climate Ambition Summit Dec. 12, the pope said “the time has come for a change of course. Let us not rob the new generations of hope in a better future.”

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2020 / 05:00 am (CNA).- The Virgin Mary teaches us about God’s gift, abundance, and blessing, Pope Francis said Saturday on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Looking at the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe we somehow also have the reflection of these three realities: abundance, blessing and gift,” he said in a homily Dec. 12.

Vatican City, Dec 11, 2020 / 12:00 pm (CNA).- Reaching a height of nearly 100 feet, the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square this year is adorned with handcrafted wooden ornaments made by the homeless, as well as children and other adults.

Before the Christmas tree lighting ceremony Dec. 11, Pope Francis said that he wanted the Christmas tree and nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square to be “a sign of hope” in a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic.