"Pope Francis Conducts Annual Baptism Ceremony for Infants at Sistine Chapel"
Pope Francis continued an annual tradition by baptizing 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel, using a shell-shaped container to pour baptismal water over each child's head. The ceremony, which took place near the end of the Christmas season, was marked by tranquility as the infants remained quiet, a contrast to previous years when one crying baby could set off a chorus. The Pope's homily was brief, focusing on the significance of baptism as a "birthday" of Christian life. He encouraged parents to teach their children to celebrate their baptism date annually. Each family received a white candle to symbolize their Christian roots, and the Pope interacted warmly with the babies and their families before departing.