Welcoming new ambassadors to the Vatican from Belize, Bahamas, Thailand, Norway, Mongolia, Niger, Uganda and Sudan Dec. 15, the pope thanked the nations they represent for the many ways they contribute “to the common good not only of their citizens but of our entire human family.”

Pope Francis encouraged youngsters to put down their phones to spend time praying and looking at other people to see their needs.

It’s a sign of St. Francis’ holiness that his fame draws people to the cross from which Christ receives and gazes on all who come.

Catholic Extension’s cover story is about Christmas through the eyes of these children who “come from different cultures and parts of the world, but what they share in common is faith — faith in the midst of terror, violence and war,” the story said.

The “Way of the Water” script returns viewers to the fictional moon Pandora and continues the story of the kickoff’s two principal characters, the avatar of Earth-born ex-Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his Pandoran warrior wife, Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña).