Christians should embrace "a sober lifestyle" and “make an honest assessment" of their lives in Advent, Benedict XVI said at the Angelus yesterday (video). Popular Christian Christmas traditions "create islands for the soul" amid consumerism, Pope Benedict said before a screening arranged by Bavarian Television on Friday (video). Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo of Kinshasa has urged the electoral authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo not to attempt to manipulate the results of last week's general election. Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster has clarified his position on civil partnerships after critics suggested he was at odds with the Vatican. The supreme court in Spain has ruled that Opus Dei must delete the personal details of an ex-member from its records as she asked them to do when she left. Fr Joseph Komonchak disputes the SSPX "mantra" that the Second Vatican Council was pastoral not doctrinal. John Allen reflects on a "new symbol" of false abuse allegations against priests. Fr Federico Lombardi says that 20,000 of the Church's 125,000 health institutions and charities are dedicated to serving children. And Ella Ide identifies the world's best tweeting cardinals.