st. peters. >> did peter really travel to rome to lay the foundations for the catholic church? >> the new testament says nothing explicitly about peter coming to rome and i think a lot of people will be surprised to find this out. >> the apostle paul who we know lived in rome and whose letters make up half of the new testament doesn't refer to peter being in the city once. >> he doesn't seem to know of him. he doesn't mention any connection between the christians there in the city and peter and that's kind of interesting omission. so if peter is there in the city, why doesn't paul say anything about him at all? >> the omission is all the more strange because we know peter and paul knew each other. >> in and around a.d. 50 peter and paul meet at antioch. they meet there because peter has come from jerusalem to see the progress being made by paul's mission. >> my brother. >> when peter and paul meet, in antioch, they have a fierce round. >> you're happy to sit with gentiles. >> this is an argument

in vatican city, the faithful began gathering long before midnight in st peter's square. beneath a giant christmas tree, a scene to reflect the birth ofjesus. while inside the basilica began the annual ceremony, steeped in catholic tradition. this, the fifth christmas eve mass to be held by pope francis. with 1.2 million roman catholics followers around the world, the pontiff used his speech to highlight the plight of migrants, telling his followers the story of mary and joseph, and the trials they were forced to endure on theirjourney to bethlehem. his holiness urged compassion to those who've also fled their homes. translation: we see the tracks of entire families forced to set out in our own day. we see the tracks of millions of people who do not choose to go away, but driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones. in many cases, this departure is filled with hope, hope for the future. yet for many others, this departure can only have one name — survival. outside of the cathedral, amongst the splendour of st peter's square, there was hope that pope francis‘ spee

st. peter's basilica.ight mass is pope francis with music by the sistine chapel choir. this broadcast is presented in consultation with the united states conference of catholic bishops. the commentator is father manuel dorantes, who is pastor of immaculate conception in chicago and secretariat for >> from st. peter's basilica in rome, you are seeing the beginning of the midnight mass at christmas of pope francis as he prepares to enter the largest church in the world to remind the global congregation of the birth of the prince of peace, jesus christ, our lord. in a special celebration of christmas, the fifth of pope francis' pontificate, in a special way we want to join those of you who are watching from your homes and especially the sick in the hospitals, those who are imprisoned, who are able to join us via this broadcast. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the 25th day of december. the seventh day of the lunar month. innumerable ages having passed since the creation of the world, when in the beginning

at the beginning of the sixteenth century the foundation was laid for the new st peter's basilica in rome it was intended as a proof that christendom suppose the classical era. in the mid seventeenth century a sculpture was made for the church of sun to muddy adèle of it. it had the same aim to illustrate the ultimate triumph of christendom. the sculpture. was a successor to me helen jell-o. whose late work marked the end of the renaissance and the beginning of the baroque . the motif of the ecstasy of saint teresa is a variation of the annunciation also depicted by frog and jellicoe but with benny there was a decisive transformation saint to rezone is portrayed in dramatic film many many attempts to make the ecstasy tangible math a mitzvah grown our eyes are twisted the body is open. from now on the story of salvation and the motifs derived from it were presented theatrically utilizing old visual tools available. that included classical heroes and an agrees. precisely at the moment when st peter's basilica symbolized the victory of christian imagery of a pagan antiquity the latter r

st. peter's square. the pope strongly defended immigrants around the world, comparing them to the story of mary and joseph traveling from nazareth and finding no place to stay in bethlehem. >>> it has been peaceful in the middle east as christians celebrate christmas in the holy land. this comes amid recent violent clashes between israelis and palestinians. connor powell has more from jerusalem. >> reporter: this is always a festive time in bethlehem but the christmas season has been marred by weeks of violent protests by palestinian muslims and christians following president donald trump's decision to declare jerusalem the capital of israel. today with christmas eve celebrations well underway, bethlehem has been peaceful. the mood is much different than past years with president donald trump's decision front and center. signs all over the place reading jerusalem is the capital of palestine. palestinian president issued a christmas message calling on the international christian communities to "listen to

st. peter's basilica.seven a. company"and the next thing you know, we're walking in by the altar and to our surprise, the organs were in crates, 50 feet from the altar." the next couple of days, were spent perfecting the sound. there was a reason the vatican had chosen allen organ. st. peter's houses 12,000 people during mass, and the current pipe organ was too loud up front, and not loud enough for the back. but steve's product, with the internal computer audio board and speaker system, was perfect.there it was, their mcgungie built allen organ, now permanently sitting in one of the most famous places in the world.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "it's a very humbling experience, because in our craft, i mean, the way we look at our success is not only the satisfaction of our customers, and the people who play and hear our instruments, but also who requests us.and in a group, when you're talking about the vatican, that there are not many equals." on christmas eve, millions around the world will

in the immense coppola st peter's we find the legend of its foundation expressed in the sentence and so i say to you peter and upon this rock i will build my church. the new building claim to be nothing less than the greatest monument in the history of the world. time and again the builders dishpan it and down to it whether the immense vault would be capable of bearing the enormous coppola but will. the spirit of the age demanded a massive triumphant check. as an old man benny received a commission from pope clement the ninth to design the entrance to the cast as some tangent of. the building was the muslim of emperor hadrian and the triumphant entrance way over the bridge was lined with statues of the classical gods of victory many replace these with angels converting a pagan monument into a christian. the angels hold the instruments of the passion kristie in their hands thus the road becomes a symbolic way of the cross all via dolorosa like the one walked by the pilgrims in jerusalem many converted it into a triumphal procession and the angels bear witness to it with the symbols of

st. peter's basilica. >>> the president unnerves more than a few with incendiary words targeted toward immigrants. >>> we get a check on old st. nick as he flies around the world. >>> and home for the holidays with the heartwarming family reunions. msnbc live starts right now. >>> good morning. for those who wished for a white christmas, many of you may have gotten your wish after a winter weather alert was put into effect for some 55 million americans, blanketing parts of the country in snow as santa continues his way around the globe. from illinois to ohio, massachusetts to indiana, americans will wake up this morning to find their own little christmas gift left by mother nature herself. it even hit chicago as the bears tried to celebrate and found some warmth in their bleachers. while it may make for a nice, cozy morning of opening gifts and drinking hot cocoa, it's likely to make for a treacherous commute for those getting ready to hit the road. let's get straight to meteorologist bonnie schneider. for more on the winter weather advisory this morning and this year's white christmas possibilit

at the beginning of the sixteenth century the foundation was laid for the new st peter's basilica in rome it was intended as a proof that christendom suppose the classical saint to rezone is pro-trade in dramatic fold many attempts to make the ecstasy tangible math i'm it's a groan our eyes are twisted my body is open. from now on the story of salvation and the motifs derived from it were presented theatrically utilizing old visual tools available that included classical heroes and added grease. precisely at the moment when st peter's basilica symbolize the victory of christian imagery of a pagan antiquity the latter returned in full force into the christian world. in the immense coppola of st peter's we find the legend of its foundation expressed in the sentence and so i say to you you are pita and upon this rock i will build my church. the new building claimed to be nothing less than the greatest monument in the history of the world time and again the builders dishpan it and down to it whether the immense vault would be capable of bearing the enormous coppola but will. the spirit o

st. peter's square and millions more around the world watched the pope's annual message of peace. pope francis once again touched on sensitive political subjects. he called for a negotiated two- state solution to end the

custom pope francis has given that or be blessing from the balcony of the basilica overlooking st peter's square it's one of the most sacred addresses in the catholic calender. but then these. days. it's free. some ten thousand catholics and to risk of that outside st peter's to hear the pope's traditional blessing be at or be means to the city and the world and the pope also had a worldly matter on his mind in his address francis repeated calls for a solution to the only going conflict in the middle east which was recently stoked by u.s. president donald trump's recognition of jerusalem as israel's capital. on this festive day let us ask the lord for peace for jerusalem and for all the holy land let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two states with a mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders. the pope's christmas eve mass was no less political francis drew attention to the plight of refugees he told catholics to be welcoming towards pe

berlin and christians around the world are celebrating christmas pope francis leads a vigil mass at st peter's basilica where he says today's refugees are fleeing their homes just like joseph and mary had to do before the birth of jesus christ also coming up. hundreds of christians attend the first christmas eve mass in mosul sent islamic extremists word grif driven out almost six months ago they're hoping christian life can thrive again in the city. and kremlin critic alex i know danny has held rallies across russia to back his bid to run in next year's election he's considered the strongest potential challenger to president vladimir putin but a court conviction bars him from running. plus david and goliath out in nature conservationists in south africa are turning to one of the world's tiniest creatures in their effort to contain damage caused by one of the biggest. high my actuator welcome to the program. and we start in the vatican where pope francis has celebrated the traditional christmas eve midnight mass in the splendor of st peter's basilica and remarks earlier the pope compared mary

some ten thousand worshippers joined midnight mass amid the splendor of st peter's basilica. many more followed the service from the square outside amid heightened security. i think that the pope signifies a lot of hope for a lot of people and that he has the power to bring a lot of people together through religion and through faith and i hope that. people would be more forgiving the words one another whatever day or religion each more accepting. so that we would all live in harmony. the pope support for refugees has put him at all odds with some politicians but it's already become a key message of his tenure. well here in germany president a funk alter steinmeyer used his christmas address to urge germans to remain calm this by political uncertainty in the country towns and america has been trying to form a new coalition government since federal elections back in september steinmeyer also encouraged germans to draw lessons from the past fast devised. by divine summer thirty years ago the christmas season was characterized by incredible or an enthusiasm thanks to the fall of

so, you have been reading up on st. peter, i've been reading up on st. paul. he was beheaded. >> anthony: he was beheaded. >> asia: for certain. >> anthony: st. paul wasn't like a nice guy. >> asia: no, he was terrible. >> anthony: he was in charge or persecuting heretics and christians. anyways, he's on his way to damascus to torture the [ bleep ] out of some more christians, and he experiences a blinding light. he goes blind. >> asia: and what does the voice say? "i am jesus, your lord. you're torturing christians. you shall stop." >> anthony: yeah, get on board, get on the jesus train. and then three days later the scales fell from his eyes. >> asia: but the scales is like prosciutto. he had prosciutto in front of his eyes and fell down. and then he was like, oh. >> anthony: you're making me hungry. >> asia: it's a miracle. >> anthony: as important as religion, folklore, and history are to me, you know what's more important? dinner. a last grab at some local specialties. >> asia: in the past, the town was considered a sacred site protected by st. paul who ac

the pontiff carried out the service in st peter's basilica.human traffickers who were described as modern day herods. meanwhile pilgrims are celebrating midnight mass, in bethlehem. this year's celebration takes place amid rising tensions in the region following the us decision to recognisejerusalem as israel's capital earlier this month. our religion editor martin bashir is in manger square for us. is there something of a different atmosphere there this year? despite the inclement weather as you can see, there are no spaces in the queues of the church of the nativity behind me and the midnight mass which started a few minutes' ago. the reality is that donald trump was my decision to officially recognise jerusalem as the capital city of israel which provoked clashes, has had a stark effect across the city. many of the hotels which are generally oversubscribed are currently closed and empty. traders complain ofa currently closed and empty. traders complain of a lack of business and the fact is the threat of violence has had a greater effect on

st. peter's square, it is one of the most sacred addresses in the catholic calendar. >> 10,000 catholics and tourist gathered outside st. peter's to hear the pope's traditional blessing, what it means to the city and the world and the pope also had a worldly matter on his mind. in his address, france is repeated calls for solutions to the ongoing conflict in the middle east. this was recently stoked by u.s. president donald trump's recognition of jerusalem as israel's capital. >> on this festive day, let us ask the lord for peace for jerusalem and for all the holy land. let us pray that the will to resume dialogue they prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can be finally reached. one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two states with internationally recognized borders. the pups christmas eve mass was no less political. he told catholics to be welcoming toward people you have been driven -- who have been driven from their hnflicts, comd joseph's journey to bethlehem with the mass migration seen today. the holy couple had arrived at a place where there was no

take you to the vatican now where pope francis is holding a thanksgiving for the past service in st peter'sart of the eight days of christmas, the octaves of christmas that started on christmas eve. we are now on day seven of the octave. these are the vespas. a traditional hymn will be some and after that pope francis will visit eight crib oi’ pope francis will visit eight crib or creche set up outside st peter's at the basilica and he will spend some time in silent prayer. a flavour of how the world is bringing in 2018. we have been looking at new year celebrations around the world. people in the southern hemisphere have begun welcoming in the new year. three, two, one... auckland in new zealand, was the first major city to celebrate the beginning of 2018. the city put on its traditional firework display from the auckland sky tower. around 3000 fireworks lit up the night sky for over five minutes. next it was australia's turn to usher in the new year with the traditionally spectacular display on sydney's harbour bridge. five, four, three, two, one. fireworks that was sydney. hong kong have

st. peter's basilica and the vatican.wd of 10 thousand are inside the massive cathedral and outside in st. peter's square during the homily. the pope strongly defended immigrants comparing them to the story of mary and joseph traveling from nazareth and finding no place to stay in bethlehem. happening, a search for a suspected killer, philadelphia police say this is the man responsible for a quadruple shooting in southwest philadelphia thursday. 21-year-old kennedy wanted in connection with a murder. she called family members who showed up to help and that's when police say he pulled the trigger one person died and three others were injured. >>> this was the scene of a two-car accident early this morning in philadelphia. it happened on the 5100 block of torres in east frankford. one person was taken to the hospital. and this, the scene of an accident in delaware county. this one happened around 2:30 this morning near the intersection of greenwood and church lane in upper darby. no injuries so far have been reported. >>> h

in that incident a suicide bomber forced his way into st peter's church and killed twenty eight people. you know they're horrible pictures that really upset me terrible images. that are not because the victims were christians no it's just because it's difficult to bear with solving it. the bomb had been coated with small bits of metal. or. traces left by the deadly shrapnel can be seen in the columns of the church they remain as a grim reminder. the terrorist detonated the bomb on the right side of the church where the women sit. lost both her daughters in the attack friends and family know visit the childless couple regularly to celebrate friendship and the good times they had with their daughters. the living room resembles a memorial shrine more than a place to sit and chat. to brawny and marina were eighteen and twenty one when they were killed in the attack on december eleventh two thousand and sixteen. when in a town i lay in hines and given what had a clue to say i want to get there as fast as i could to see the girls if they were still alive. i went into st peter's church it was

i'm going to take a look at it from above the best place to do that is the observation deck in st peter's church. by the way. is a unesco world heritage site more than one thousand buildings here are landmarked. and now from cold germany to warm brazil in our meta local slot we visit a nice polity fairyland this she lives in the largest city of brazil in sao paulo and shows us the most beautiful places there. may be the sun welcome to sell paulo i'm on a nice and i'm a poly stana that's what they call the locals here today i'm going to show you my city we're starting on the main street the oven and up let's go. to the other nato is the heart of sao paolo companies multinationals banks museums and other institutions are all headquartered here so paolo is brazil's most important financial cultural and economic center. i'm was this in turn the week the traffic is chaotic here but on sundays cars are banned and there's a lot happening on the streets because of the drugs not for. the better. i think i mean there's a dancing everywhere and free dance courses this one is the popular summer rock.

pope francis has celebrated the traditional christmas eve midnight mass in st peter's basilica.in remarks earlier the pope compared mary and joseph journey to bethlehem to the mass migration being seen in the world today.

pope francis has told brigid the traditional christmas eve midnight mass in st peter's basilica. in remarks earlier the pope compared mary and joseph journey to bethlehem to the mass migration being seen in the world today.

seven kilometers that you can see all of the vatican city from here with its gardens and hills mike st peter's on the colony. and it towers above row ali mosque the papal city which is my hometown and that's why it's my favorite spot . and it visits the thief and a woman like i had the museums with overdue and there's no reason at all not the slightest why the vatican museums have to be run by a man. with. a nice. round of red bull when a woman climbs that high in the vatican it's a reason to celebrate if she can succeed. it was. a website. this summer. but it would be. with. bob rae out his appointment was a sensation a year ago she was named director of the vatican museums the collections contain nearly a quarter of a million treasures administered by a host of historians curators and conservators traditionally manage. an art historian and trained conservator to last for years in charge of the prints and drawing section at the vatican library but first she was one of only three women. at among the put them in the musky to say it was a male dominated world. people in the secular museums i had

st peter's on the colony. and it towers above rome the papal city which is my home town and that's why it's my favorite spot. and. the appointment of a woman like by bringing out the to head to museums with overdue there's no reason at all not the slightest why the vatican museums have to be run by a man. like. that. and those who do don't know so much. but when a woman climbs that high in the vat. it's a reason to celebrate if she can succeed. but the. appointment was a sensation a year ago she was named director of the museum's collection. of a million treasures administered by a host of historians and conservatives traditionally. and historian. of the prince and drawing section at the vatican library at first she was one of only three women. i don't moan look at them in the mosquito. it was a male dominated world. people in the secular museums i had worked in there were more women. on the other hand when i left the vatican library twenty years later about half the staff were female and. the papacy adapted t

bright sunshine lit up the basilica in st peter's square.ancis chose to focus his christmas day message on how conflict and oppression are casting a dark shadow over the world. he said that christmas makes us focus on the christ child, and thereby pay attention to the sufferings of children, particularly in the holy land. "we seejesus in the children of the middle east," he said, "who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between israelis and palestinians." "on this festive day, let us ask the lord for peace forjerusalem." the anglican archbishop in jerusalem, the most reverend suheil dawani, said that christ himself wept over the city 2,000 years ago, and with donald trump's decision to officially recognisejerusalem as the capital of israel, that grief continues. when he wept at that time, he wept for the absence of peace and love in the life of people who live here. i'm afraid that our lord jesus is really still weeping for this city. happy christmas! at canterbury cathedral, archbishop justin welby said that though christ was bor

outside of the cathedral, amongst the splendour of st peter's square, there was hope that pope francis st peter‘s square, there was hope that pope francis‘ speech would bring people together. hope that the people will be more forgiving, towards one another, whatever their religion is. more accepting, so that... we will all live in harmony. just apply also the golden rule, whatever you don‘t want to be done u nto whatever you don‘t want to be done unto you, don‘t do it unto them. whatever you don‘t want to be done unto you, don't do it unto themli think the pope signifies a lot of hope for a lot of people, and he has the power to bring a lot of people together. later on christmas day the pope will be back on the balcony at saint peters basilica to deliver the traditional blessing to the city and the world. at the church of the nativity, in bethlehem — midnight mass took place against a backdrop of heightened security. fewer pilgrims than usual are reported in the city, because of increased tensions between the palestinians and israel following president trump‘s decision to recognise jer

he carried out the service in st peter's basilica.uded a condemnation of human traffickers who were described as modern day herods. in northern iraq, mosul is celebrating its first christmas since the city was taken by islamic state militants in june 2014. since then, iraqi christians were persecuted and driven out, while residents who remained were brutally oppressed until iraqi forces were able to retake the city. alan johnston reports. they gathered in mosul‘s cathedral, marking a christmas they will never forget, the first christmas after the war. under the rule of the islamic state militants, this would have been impossible. there could be no christian worship in public. the community was persecuted and many fled. this was a coming together, not just christians. fled. this was a coming together, notjust christians. was once helped to prepare the church for this special service. they were here at as well, as the worship unfolded. mosul was the scene of months of ferocious street fighting. iraqi forces and western allies battled to

message to call for a two state solution to the israel palestine conflict speaking to crowds in st peter's square the catholic pontiff warned against the winds of war and asked for peace for jerusalem and the holy land this is the second time pope francis has spoken out since u.s. president donald trump formally announced his government would recognize jerusalem as israel's capital but. we see jesus and the children of the middle east who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between israelis and palestinians on this festive day let us off the lord for peace for jerusalem and for all the holy land let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can be finally reached one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed internationally recognized borders . leadership has more from rome. this is only the second time the pope francis has spoken in public about the trump plan for a couple in jerusalem he said when he first heard that and that was on december sixth the city was profoundly concerne