Author: Josephine Mckenna

Palermo Archbishop Corrado Lorefice, left, meets Rabbi Pinhas Punturello, Shavei Israel’s emissary to Sicily, Italy. Photo courtesy of Shavei Israel

The controversial nativity scene that has Mary wearing a white shawl, which some people think is a burqa. Photo courtesy of Rev. Franco Corbo The controversial nativity scene that has Mary wearing a white shawl, which some people think is a burqa. Photo courtesy of Rev. Franco Corbo

American composer J.J. Wright, 31, from Buffalo, N.Y., has released an album of sacred music entitled “O Emmanuel.” Photo courtesy of Kirk Richard Smith.

The Braccio Nuovo Gallery in Rome, Italy, contains 140 sculptures and will be open to the public beginning Wednesday December 21. Photo courtesy of the Vatican Museums

(Left) Pope Francis arrives in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on April 27, 2016. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (Right) Vallejo Balda is shown in a YouTube video

Art restorer Stefania Culesanti, 50, puts finishing touches to a red robe in the Music section of the Liberal Arts room of the Borgia Appartments in the Vatican Museum on Dec. 12, 2016. Photo courtesy of Chris Warde-Jones Chris Warde-Jones