VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis issued a Christmas Day prayer that recent U.N.-backed peace agreements for Syria and Libya will quickly end the suffering of their people, denouncing the "monstrous evil" and atrocities they have endured and praising the countries that have taken in their refugees.
Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis issued a plenary indulgence for Catholics in hopes of spreading the church's message of mercy in a world torn by war, poverty and extremist attacks. The sun-soaked St. Peter's Square was under heavy security, as it has been since the Nov. 13 Paris attacks by Islamic extremists that left 130 dead.
BOSTON — Set to become the next mayor of Weymouth in a little more than a week, state Sen. Robert Hedlund on Thursday formally filed his intent to resign his seat on Jan. 4, a step required before the Senate could consider scheduling special election next year.
Hedlund, a Republican who was elected mayor of the South Shore town back in November and is due to take the oath of office a week from Monday, opted against filing the irrevocable letter sooner, which could have allowed the Senate to set a special election to coincide with the state's March 1 presidential primary as the House did to fill Fitchburg Mayor-elect Stephen DiNatale's seat.
