Pope appoints first woman to senior diplomatic role at the Vatican
Pope Francis has asked an Italian lawyer to be the first woman to hold a management position in the Vatican’s most important office, the Secretariat of State.
Vatican
Cardinal denies claims he manipulated retired pope over celibacy book
The Vatican cardinal who co-authored a controversial book with Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI reaffirming priestly celibacy has denied he manipulated the retired pontiff into publishing it.
‘Don’t bite!’ Pope negotiates papal kiss after hand-slapping controversy
Pope Francis has cautiously waded back into the crowds after video of him slapping away the hand of an overly enthusiastic pilgrim went viral and sparked a papal apology.
Pope sorry for ‘losing patience’ with well-wisher who grabbed his hand
Pope Francis has apologised for hitting the hand of a well-wisher who grabbed him and yanked him towards her.
Pope offers hope against darkness in Christmas Day message
Pope Francis offered a Christmas message of hope against darkness that cloaks conflicts and relationships in large parts of the world from the Middle East to the Americas to Africa.
Pope says God loves ‘even the worst of us’ as he celebrates Christmas mass
Pope Francis assured the faithful on Christmas Eve that God loves everyone, “even the worst of us”, as he celebrated the joyous birth of Christ after a less-than-joyful year of scandals and opposition.
Pope abolishes ‘pontifical secret’ code in clergy sex abuse cases
Pope Francis has abolished the “pontifical secret” code of confidentiality used in clergy sexual abuse cases, after mounting criticism that the obligation has been used to protect paedophiles, silence victims and keep authorities from investigating crimes.
Pope Francis sends envoy to bring 33 asylum-seekers from Greece to Vatican
Pope Francis has sent a cardinal to the Greek island of Lesbos to bring back to Rome 33 asylum-seekers, the Vatican said.
Dancing and singing at Vatican Mass as Pope welcomes Congolese
Dancing and singing enlivened St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday as Pope Francis celebrated a special Mass for Catholics from the violence-wracked African nation of DR Congo.
Vatican returns relic believed to be from Jesus’ manger to Holy Land
Christians are celebrating the return to the Holy Land of a tiny wooden relic they believe was part of Jesus’ manger.
Pope urges action to help women and children ‘humiliated’ by traffickers
Pope Francis called for more efforts to combat the “humiliation” of women and children forced into prostitution as he began a visit to Thailand, where human trafficking and poverty help fuel the sex tourism industry.