Pope Francis successfully closed the books on a somewhat dismal 2021 over the weekend, repeating basically familiar themes, from the importance of solidarity in facing the Covid pandemic to a call for people of goodwill to become “artisans of fraternity.” The pontiff pulled out of leading his own New Year’s Eve vespers service at the last minute, choosing instead to allow Italian Cardinal Gianbattista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, to preside…
