  A chilly morning in Rome did nothing to dissuade pilgrims, visitors and families with young children from filling St Peter’s Basilica this morning for the Pope’s first public Mass of the new year, a Mass marking both a Feast Day and an international commemoration – as Seàn-Patrick Lovett reports. On the first day of the New Year, the Church turns to Our Lady, dedicating January 1st to Mary the Mother of God. It’s also the day on which the Pope invites us to reflect on the theme of Peace. January 1st 2012 marks the 45th World Day of Peace and so both Mary and Peace were at the heart of the Pope’s homily during the solemn Mass celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday morning. “Mary”, said Pope Benedict XVI, “is the Mother and model of the Church, who receives the divine Word in ...» |