Pope says Church should rid itself of 'worldliness'Pope Francis on Friday called for the Catholic Church and its faithful to rid themselves of earthly concerns like St Francis of Assisi during a pilgrimage to the saint's Italian hometown.
07 October 2013
Pope leads fasting and prayer day for Syria The Catholic Church has called for a global day of fasting and prayer on Saturday for peace in Syria and against any armed intervention, with Pope Francis scheduled to host a mass vigil on St Peter's Square.
07 September 2013
Bishops in US come out against military strikes on SyriaLeaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States opposed military action against Syria on Wednesday, saying it would led to "unintended negative consequences."
Pope leaves Brazil trip after giant mass Pope Francis left Brazil on Sunday after leading a giant beach mass for three million pilgrims, ending his historic trip to reignite Catholic passion with pleas for a humbler Church.
29 July 2013
Rio metro breaks down, causing chaos amid papal visit Rio de Janeiro's subway broke down on Tuesday, causing chaos for throngs of pilgrims in town for a huge Catholic gathering and a papal visit already marked by security lapses.
24 July 2013
Salvadoran's case used to legalize abortion: Church El Salvador's Catholic Church accused activists Sunday of using the case of a woman who delivered a baby with cerebral malformation to "open the door" to legalized abortion.
Brazil priest excommunicated over support for gays A Catholic priest in southeastern Brazil was excommunicated on Monday after publicly resigning from his duties to protest against the church's opposition to homosexuality.
30 April 2013
Vatican urges dialogue in crisis-hit Venezuela The Roman Catholic Church weighed in Sunday on Venezuela's political crisis, with Pope Francis expressing deep concern and calling for dialogue in the wake of a disputed presidential election.
22 April 2013
Spain vows to tighten abortion law despite criticism Spain's centre-right government has vowed to "promptly" tighten the nation's abortion laws, angering the opposition Socialist Party which had eased access to the procedure.
Woman questions ex-president's paternity test in Paraguay A woman who claims that former president Fernando Lugo fathered her son charged Friday that the laboratory being used in the paternity case belongs to one of his political allies.
13 April 2013
Pope completes installation with emotional Rome mass Pope Francis on Sunday completed his installation as pontiff at an emotional ceremony in which he formally took possession of Rome's St John Lateran basilica -- the official seat of the city's bishop.
08 April 2013
Pope urges determined action against sex abuse Pope Francis has given his first pronouncement on the Catholic Church's pervasive paedophile priest scandal, urging Vatican disciplinarians to act "with determination" against the scourge.
06 April 2013
Pope marks first Good Friday with torch-lit ceremony Pope Francis marked his first Good Friday with a traditional torch-lit ceremony around the Colosseum in Rome and prayers for a Middle East "torn apart by injustice and conflicts".
30 March 2013
Philippines marks Easter with bloody mock crucifixions Catholic zealots in the Philippines re-enacted the last hours of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, whipping their backs and nailing themselves to crosses in a grisly Easter ritual that persists despite Church disapproval.
29 March 2013
Muslim-born convert quits Church after pope change A Muslim-born journalist whose 2008 baptism by Pope Benedict XVI made him Italy's most famous convert announced Monday he was leaving the Catholic Church over the new pontiff's overtures to Islam.
26 March 2013
Pope sets out on mission to 'embrace the poorest' Pope Francis has donned the symbols of papal power, vowing to embrace the "poorest" at a grand inauguration in the Vatican as leader of a troubled Roman Catholic Church.
20 March 2013
New Pope warns Church of dangers of inaction Pope Francis has warned that the troubled Catholic Church risks becoming little more than a charity with no spiritual foundations if it fails to undergo renewal.