Pope Francis

Pope tells scandal-marred Legion they still haven’t reformed

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has told the Legion of Christ religious order it still has a long road of reform ahead,...
12:37 28 February 2022

Pope sick a 2nd day with apparent cold, cancels audiences

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis canceled his official audiences Friday after apparently coming down with a cold.The Vat...
9:18 28 February 2022

Pope cancels visit with Rome priests for ‘slight’ illness

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is sick and he skipped a planned Mass with Rome clergy across town on Thursday, officia...
10:31 27 February 2022

Pope observes usual Ash Wednesday customs in time of virus

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis celebrated the Ash Wednesday ritual that marks the opening of the Catholic Church’s Len...
19:42 26 February 2022

Pope cautions against “unfair” Middle East peace plans

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has cautioned against “unfair” solutions aimed at ending the conflict between Israelis and Pale...
12:00 23 February 2022

Abuse victims look to Vatican after UN meetings in Geneva

GENEVA (AP) — Three deaf victims of sexual abuse by priests in Argentina wrapped up a string of meetings with United Nat...
21:50 19 February 2022

Pope avoids question of married priests in Amazon document

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis refused Wednesday to approve the ordination of married men to address a shortage of priests in the Amazon, sidestepping a ...
11:03 12 February 2022

Pope to visit Malta on May 31 in first foreign trip of 2020

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will visit the Mediterranean island nation of Malta on May 31, the Vatican said Monday, confirming the Pope's first foreig...
12:12 10 February 2022

Pope’s Amazon document due Wednesday amid married priest row

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will release his eagerly-awaited document on the Amazon next Wednesday, with attention focused on whether he will approve ...
12:44 7 February 2022

Vatican seeks to explain absence of aide after book scandal

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican sought Wednesday to explain the absence of a key member of Pope Francis' protocol team following the scandal over a book on...
14:57 5 February 2022

US Vice President Pence to Pope Francis: you made me a hero

VATICAN CITY — U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told Pope Francis, “You made me a hero" back home by granting him a private audience at the Vatican on F...
13:38 24 January 2022

Two popes -- one retired, one reigning -- cause a furor

VATICAN CITY — Ever since Benedict XVI announced he would become the first pope in 600 years to resign, Catholic theologians, canon lawyers and others...
21:12 14 January 2022

Vatican tamps down clamor over Benedict’s new celibacy book

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Monday sought to downplay the decision by retired Pope Benedict XVI to reaffirm the “necessity” of a celibate priesthood...
13:55 13 January 2022

Pope warns of risks from US-Iran tensions in policy speech

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis warned Thursday that increasing tensions between the U.S. and Iran are setting the stage for a broader conflict in the Mid...
10:38 9 January 2022

Pope offers hope against darkness in Christmas Day message

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis offered a Christmas message of hope Wednesday against darkness that cloaks conflicts and relationships in large parts of t...
11:52 25 December 2021

Pope marks joyful Christmas Eve after less-than-joyful year

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis assured the faithful on Christmas Eve that God loves everyone — “even the worst of us” — as he celebrated the joyous birth...
21:38 24 December 2021

Cries of abuse in Catholic Church start to be heard in Japan

TOKYO — During Pope Francis’ recent visit to Japan, Harumi Suzuki stood where his motorcade passed by holding a sign that read: “I am a survivor.”
7:55 14 December 2021

Rochester diocese request led to beatification delay

NEW YORK — The Catholic diocese of Rochester, N.Y., confirms it made the request for further investigations that prompted the Vatican to take the rare...
21:00 6 December 2021

Buffalo bishop resigns under fire for handling of misconduct

NEW YORK — Pope Francis on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone following widespread criticism from Malone’s staff, pri...
13:57 4 December 2021

Pope says Nativity scenes should go in town squares, schools

GRECCIO, Italy — Pope Francis on Sunday hailed Nativity scenes as “simple and admirable” signs of Christian faith and encouraged their placement in wo...
17:11 1 December 2021

French cardinal’s career at stake in sex abuse case

LYON, France — A French cardinal said Thursday he did not understand why he was found guilty of covering up sexual abuse of children, speaking at an a...
22:21 28 November 2021

Review: In ‘The Two Popes,’ a buddy movie in vestments

Believers of all religions can agree on one thing: the Vatican is an unlikely place for a bromance.
21:01 26 November 2021

Pope defends raid on financial unit despite criticism

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis defended a controversial raid on the Vatican’s financial watchdog agency, saying Tuesday it showed the Vatican’s...
19:21 26 November 2021

Pope visits Jesuit Japan community that could have been his

TOKYO — Pope Francis is wrapping up his visit to Japan in a very personal way, spending the morning with his Jesuit confreres in the community that wo...
0:35 26 November 2021

Pope in Japan voices concern over nuke power, meets victims

TOKYO — Pope Francis voiced concern about nuclear power Monday after meeting with victims of Japan’s 2011 nuclear disaster, saying the development of ...
12:37 25 November 2021

Pope in Hiroshima: Use and possession of atom bomb ‘immoral’

HIROSHIMA, Japan — Pope Francis traveled to Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Sunday to demand that world powers renounce their nuclear arsenals, declaring th...
12:16 24 November 2021

Argentine bishop says he’ll return to face sex allegations

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine bishop close to Pope Francis said Saturday he’ll return voluntarily to Argentina to respond to prosecutors’ acc...
21:02 23 November 2021

Pope denounces ‘evil’ of nukes as he fulfills Japan dream

TOKYO — Pope Francis denounced the “evil” of nuclear weapons on Saturday as he began a three-day visit to Japan and fulfilled a dream to be a missiona...
12:10 23 November 2021

From air, pope greets leaders of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis managed an airborne diplomatic dance by sending telegrams of greetings to the leaders of China, Hong Kong and Ta...
4:50 23 November 2021