Much like the man whose birthday many will celebrate Sunday, the pope has dedicated his life to caring for the most vulnerable members of society. He’s also trying to bring the Catholic Church into the new millennium amid significant turmoil.

The holidays can be occasions for spiritual progressives to unite, affirm their shared message of hope and encourage their friends and families to join them in challenging the forces of fear.

On Friday, the Security Council condemned Israel for annexing and squatting on Palestinian land but did not call for sanctions as it has for Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

Republican and Democratic conventions. Primary and presidential nominee debates. The Pulse club mass shooting. The #NoDAPL fight. Some of the stories we covered in real time this year were long-scheduled. Other news was unforeseen, unfolding—some even ongoing.

Though the president-elect has indicated a willingness to live with such a scenario, it could greatly upset his incoming Cabinet.

Charges of Russian interference in our election should be investigated but ought not to become an occasion to harass domestic critics of U.S. policy. 

Robert Weissman, president of the group Public Citizen, declares that Icahn “epitomizes predatory corporate capitalism.”

Confronted at a “Hands Off Our Medicare” event, the Senate’s incoming Democratic minority leader—who has blamed doctors for endangering Medicare—acknowledged the role of insurance companies as well. (Schumer is shown at far right.)

The Rev. William Barber has hope: “[Republicans] are afraid. ... They know that if we have policy movement along with this kind of moral movement, it will not only energize North Carolina, but it could energize the rest of the South.”

The Italian banking crisis that could take down the eurozone has been called “a bigger risk than Brexit.” Handwringing officials say there is “no magic bullet,” but a British professor, Richard Werner, says remedies are just being ignored.

Donald Trump’s appointment of recently retired generals to the highest civilian offices in America’s colossal national security state represents nothing short of a de facto military coup in Washington.

The president-elect’s creative solutions for staying in the financial loop while seeming to keep his distance once again are drawing fire from his critics.

Data from the Government Accountability Office showed that people over the age of 50 are the fastest-growing group with student debt, outpacing younger generations.