Pope Francis

Pope Announces 20 New Cardinals, With Homelands From Myanmar To Mexico

3:34pm January 04, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Some of the prelates come from countries that have never before been represented at such a high level in the Catholic Church — including Tonga and Cape Verde.

Pope Francis: 'Many Tears This Christmas'

8:46am December 25, 2014

by Scott Neuman

In his annual Christmas Day blessing, the pontiff condemned killing in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan and the "brutal persecution" of religious and ethnic minorities.

Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his weekly audience, on Dec. 17, in Vatican City. Even among non-Catholics, the pope's popularity is high.

Pope Francis And His Gift For Blending The Spiritual And The Political

7:00am December 25, 2014

by Sylvia Poggioli

Despite detractors within the church, Pope Francis' emphasis on humility and mercy has won him strong support worldwide. He has addressed thorny issues such as Vatican finances and clerical sex abuse.

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Pope Francis delivers his message during a meeting with cardinals and bishops of the Curia at the Vatican on Monday. The pope said the Curia suffered from

Pope Francis, At Christmas Gathering, Blasts Vatican's Bureaucrats

1:14pm December 22, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

He accused the Curia, which oversees the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, of "spiritual Alzheimer's" and careerism. Francis has made reforming the Vatican a major part of his agenda.

Vatican, Citing 'Delicate Situation,' Rejects Dalai Lama Meeting With Pope

8:48am December 15, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

It's an apparent reference to the Holy See's relations with China — they haven't had diplomatic ties since 1949. Tibet's spiritual leader is in Rome for a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize winners.

Books
Arts

Pope Francis As Reformer, Evangelizer — And Doctrinal Conservative

11:32am December 01, 2014

by NPR Staff

Austen Ivereigh, author of a new biography of Pope Francis, says the media have misjudged the pope's comments on abortion and homosexuality — but that Francis is a radical in other respects.

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Pope Francis waves in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican. The pope heads to Turkey on Friday, a country with few Catholics, but he plans to reach out to Muslims and to the Orthodox Church.

In A Land Of Few Christians, Pope Will Reach Out To Muslims In Turkey

7:12pm November 27, 2014

by Sylvia Poggioli

Pope Francis will meet with Turkey's Muslim leaders and the head of the Orthodox Church in what may be the most challenging trip of his young papacy.

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Pope Francis salutes the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St.Peter's square during his Sunday Angelus prayer.

Pope Francis Confirms U.S. Visit In Fall Of 2015

12:27pm November 17, 2014

by Eyder Peralta

The pontiff said he would travel to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. Francis would be the fourth pope to visit the United States.

Pope Francis inaugurates a bronze statue of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI with Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo.

Religion

Pope Says God Not 'A Magician, With A Magic Wand'

12:45pm October 28, 2014

by Scott Neuman

Speaking at an assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Francis also affirmed that evolution and the Big Bang are consistent with a creator.

Pope Francis attends a session of the two-week synod at the Vatican that wrapped up over the weekend. The usually predictable event produced a robust debate among the bishops on how the Catholic Church should deal with gays as well as Catholics who are di

Catholic Synod Highlights Divisions, Sets Stage For Future Battles

2:29pm October 21, 2014

by Sylvia Poggioli

Roman Catholic bishops openly addressed hot-button topics that included questions about gays and Catholics who are divorced or remarried. Rarely has a synod attracted such attention.

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