St John the Baptist shows us how to experience Christmas not only "as an outward party, but as the feast of the Son of God who came to bring peace, life and true joy", Benedict XVI said at the Angelus yesterday (video). Pope Benedict celebrated the opening Mass of the three-day International Congress on the Church in America in St Peter's Basilica on Sunday night. If the Annunication occurred today it "would leave no sign in the newspapers or magazines because it was a mystery that occurred in silence", the Pope said as he marked the feast of the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna on Saturday (video). Indian Archbishop Ambrose Madtha, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ivory Coast, died on Saturday night in a car crash. Fr Federico Lombardi says that, while "the world will not be saved by tweets", the Pope's Twitter account will bring him closer to millions of people. Fr Ray Blake says he feels "very angry" that the bishops of England and Wales are not leading the fight against same-sex marriage in Britain. And Rome Reports interviews the priest who holds the job that Benedict XVI applied for unsuccessfully three times before he was elected Pope. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.