Briefing

‘True peace is not … a lovely “facade” which conceals conflicts and divisions. Peace calls for daily commitment.’

POPE FRANCIS, in his first Christmas message

81

Number of fan ejections during the San Francisco 49ers’ final game at Candlestick Park, most of which were for public intoxication

‘This blunt tool only works because it collects everything.’

William PAULEY, U.S. district judge, ruling that the NSA’s data-collection program is legal and “represents the government’s counterpunch” against terrorist networks

‘We still want to get rid of him.’

NADEZHDA TOLOKONNIKOVA, member of the Russian band Pussy Riot, after serving most of a two-year jail sentence for protesting against President Vladimir Putin

GOOD WEEK

Aaron Rodgers

The Packers QB was back in play after suffering a broken collarbone

BAD WEEK

Tony Romo

Surgery on a herniated disk ended the season for the Cowboys QB

‘WASHINGTON IS CAPABLE OF GETTING THINGS DONE WHEN IT WANTS TO.’

DAN PFEIFFER, White House communications director, after the President signed a bipartisan budget deal

117,000

Number of kids who called the North American Aerospace Defense Command to track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve

‘I’m officially retiring.’

JUSTIN BIEBER, pop singer, in an impromptu announcement to his 48 million Twitter followers, though he later assured fans, “I’m never leaving you.”

THE WEEK VOLGOGRAD WAS BOMBED

Sources: AP; NORAD; Twitter; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; Vatican