Pope Francis has called on people in developed countries to live a simpler and less materialistic life. He also condemned the huge divide between the world's rich and poor, saying Jesus's birth in poverty in a stable should make everyone reflect on the meaning of life. He spoke out while leading a service in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass.

How spiritualists of the 19th century forged a lasting association between higher dimensions and the occult world. By Paul Halpern.