Italy

Pope Francis holds a monstrance as he celebrates a New Year’s Eve vespers service in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 31. Francis used his traditional year-end prayer service of thanksgiving to urge people to ask themselves: Did they spend 2013 to further their own interests or to help others? That’s what we all should “courageously” consider as New Year’s celebrations get under way, the pontiff said, as he led the service in St. Peter’s Basilica.