Snapshots from Rome

A shopkeeper in Assisi, Italy, cleans her store window just before the Christmas rush. ANN M. AUGHERTON

A statue with arms raised stands across the street from St. John Lateran Church in Rome, Italy, Dec. 5. ANN M. AUGHERTON

A seagull perches on the edge of one of the fountains in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 5. ANN M. AUGHERTON

Birds fly around St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican as the sun sets Dec. 5. ANN M. AUGHERTON

Interesting cloud formations hover over the colonnade at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 5. ANN M. AUGHERTON

A worker tops off the holy water fonts at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 6. ANN M. AUGHERTON

Michelangelo’s Pieta, with the Blessed Mother holding the crucified Jesus, is seen behind a glass barrier at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 6. ANN M. AUGHERTON

A woman shares some baked goods with pigeons just outside the colonnade Dec. 6 at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. ANN M. AUGHERTON

Christmas trees sit in a truck on one of the cobblestone streets of Assisi Dec. 6. ANN M. AUGHERTON

A nearby hotel rooftop provides a wonderful view of the dome at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 5. ANN M. AUGHERTON

A visitor to St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 7 touches the foot of the statue of St. Peter as is tradition. ANN M. AUGHERTON

Festive Christmas lights complement the quaint cobblestone streets of Rome, Italy, Dec. 6. ANN M. AUGHERTON

Pope Francis kisses a baby handed to him during his Dec. 4 general audience. ANN M. AUGHERTON

Pope Francis waves to the crowd gathered for his Dec. 4 general audience. ANN M. AUGHERTON