Pope Francis

Pope Francis Backs Freedom Of Speech — But Within Limits

4:48pm January 15, 2015

by Krishnadev Calamur

Francis said there are limits to freedom of speech, especially when it concerns religion. He was answering a question about the deadly attack last week on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Pope Francis waves to the faithful upon his arrival in Manila on Thursday.

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Tens Of Thousands Welcome Pope Francis In The Philippines

10:55am January 15, 2015

by Eyder Peralta

Security for the visit is intense, because the last two pontiffs to tour the country were targeted for assassination.

Pope Francis arrives for Wednesday's canonization Mass for Joseph Vaz at Galle Face Green in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Pope Francis Canonizes First Sri Lankan Saint

8:13pm January 14, 2015

by Julie McCarthy

Francis is in Asia on a six-day tour intended to build the Roman Catholic Church's following on a continent that holds 60 percent of the world's population but only 12 percent of Catholics.

Kansas City Catholics Divided Over Vatican Investigation Of Bishop

5:33pm January 14, 2015

by Frank Morris

Robert Finn, head of Kansas City's diocese, is the only U.S. bishop convicted of shielding a sexually abusive priest. Supporters say Finn received conflicting advice about how to handle the problem.

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Vatican Committee Reportedly Declares Slain Archbishop A Martyr

8:42pm January 09, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Oscar Romero was gunned down in 1980 after he denounced a crackdown by El Salvador's junta on its left-wing opponents at the start of a 13-year civil war.

MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) traffic enforcers patrol a street on their Segway vehicles in a 2011 photo. During a visit by Pope Francis next week, they are being asked to wear adult diapers so they won't have to leave their posts.

When You Gotta Go: Manila Police Asked To Use Diapers During Pope's Visit

2:04pm January 08, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The city's "traffic enforcers" will be on duty for up to 24 hours at a stretch during the pontiff's visit, with no time to run to the toilet.

Pope Francis waves from the window of his rooms at the Vatican to faithful at St. Peter's Square at his Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican City on Sunday.

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.