Pope Francis

Pope Francis dismisses proposal to ordain married men as priests in Amazon

February 12, 2020 8:39 pm

The recommendation, put forward by Latin American bishops last year, had alarmed conservatives in the deeply polarised 1.3 billion-member Roman Catholic Church, who feared it could lead to a change in the centuries-old commitment to celibacy among priests.

Pope Francis to web companies: guard against human traffickers' bait

February 10, 2020 1:58 pm

Pope Francis said research has shown that criminal organizations use the "most modern means of communications to snare their victims with deception".

Pope Benedict XVI breaks silence to reaffirm priest celibacy

January 13, 2020 11:02 am

Pope Benedict's intervention is extraordinary, given he had promised to remain "hidden from the world" when he retired in 2013 and pledged his obedience to the new pope.

Pope appeals to US and Iran to pursue dialogue, self-restraint

January 09, 2020 5:28 pm

He said the tensions risked "compromising the gradual process of rebuilding in Iraq, as well as setting the groundwork for a vaster conflict that all of us would want to avert".

After slapping incident, Pope Francis kisses nun after she vows not to bite

January 09, 2020 2:49 pm

Francis kept his distance when the sister first asked for a papal kiss, but then negotiated the terms: “I'll give you a kiss, but keep calm. Don't bite!” he said.

Viral video: Pope Francis angrily slaps woman's hand after she pulls him

January 02, 2020 12:59 pm

As Pope Francis shook hands with many of devotees who were waiting to meet him, one woman grabbed his hand and attempted to pull him towards the barrier.

Pope Francis: Sorry I lost patience with hand-shaker who yanked me

January 02, 2020 1:00 pm

Cameras captured the scene when the woman, from behind a barrier, reached out and grabbed the pope's hand, pulling him violently toward her. Francis reacted sharply, exclaimed something and then slapped her hand so she would let him go.

Explained: What is the 'pontifical secret', which Pope Francis has just banned?

December 18, 2019 6:54 am

Simply put, pontifical secret, or simply "papal secrecy", was the diktat of confidentiality that secured and kept secret all sensitive information on aspects of the governance of the Church.

Pope Francis condemns Iraq's 'harsh' crackdown on protesters

December 01, 2019 9:22 pm

Francis, who has said he wants to visit Iraq next year, told tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square that he was praying for the dead and wounded and invoking God for peace in the country.

Pope in Nagasaki: No to atomic weapons, deterrence doctrine

November 24, 2019 10:32 am

The mood was somber and silent, darkened by the downpour that drenched the terraced fields and rice paddies of Nagasaki and the hundreds of Japanese who came out in plastic raincoats to witness the second pope to pay his respects to victims of the bomb.

Pope Francis becomes first pontiff to visit Arabian Peninsula

February 05, 2019 1:28 pm

The Catholic leader was greeted by Abu Dhabi's powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Emirati vice president and prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, during the presentation of delegations in the courtyard of the royal palace

Top Frames: Barack Obama at the podium, Pope Francis at the Paul VI hall

January 16, 2016 8:00 am

U.S. President Barack Obama (at podium) delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington, Pope Francis (C) waves as he arrives to lead the weekly audience at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican.

Donald Trump, Pope Francis, Hillary Clinton make it to Yale Book Quotations for 2015

December 27, 2015 3:11 pm

The yearly list of quotations that would be included in the Yale Book of Quotations were announced. Here's what was said.

Top Frames: Hillary Clinton campaigns in Nevada, 13 died in Karachi landslide

October 17, 2015 8:00 am

Hillary Clinton greets members of the culinary workers union local 226 as she arrives to speak at a demonstration outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, At least 13 people, including seven children, died as a landslide hit shanties erected in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar area early Tuesday Ocotber 13.

Top Frames: Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha, Modi's US tour, Pope Francis visits US

September 27, 2015 12:59 pm

Eid al-Adha marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the Mecca. The trip to Silicon Valley forms part of Narendra Modi’s visit to the US’ west coast – the first by an Indian prime minister in more than three decades. Pope Francis arrived Tuesday on the first visit of his life to the United States, bringing his humble manner and his “church of the poor” to a rich and powerful nation polarized over economic inequality, immigration and equal justice.

Christians celebrate Easter across the world

April 05, 2015 4:32 pm

Easter commemorates the day when according to Christian tradition Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem.

Christmas Eve celebrations in India and Vatican

December 25, 2014 1:58 pm

A glimpse into the Christmas Eve celebrations in India, and the Vatican.

Pope Francis visits third holiest site in Islam, Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem

May 26, 2014 12:55 pm

Pope Francis toured the compound accompanied by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.

Australian sex abuse victims call for Papal promise to protect children

March 02, 2016 3:16 pm

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for clergy in Michoacan, Mexico

February 17, 2016 4:44 pm