Pope Francis approves sainthood for Mother TeresaPope Francis approved sainthood for Mother Teresa, the missionary nun who became a global if controversial symbol of compassion for her care of the sick and destitute.
Pope attends 300,000-strong rally for Catholic schoolsPope Francis on Saturday attended a giant rally for children and teachers from Italy's Catholic schools, with the Vatican saying that 300,000 people turned out for the event in and around St Peter's Square.
11 May 2014
Pope Francis declares John Paul II, John XXIII saintsPope Francis on Sunday proclaimed John Paul II and John XXIII the Catholic Church's newest saints at a festive ceremony joined by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims for two pontiffs who helped shape 20th-century history.
28 April 2014
John Paul II sainthood a delicate issue for MexicansMany Mexicans have mixed emotions about seeing the late pope John Paul II become a saint: they loved the man but feel he covered up sexual abuses by priests.
26 April 2014
Now the hard work starts for superstar popePope Francis celebrates one year in office on Thursday swaddled in a blanket of approval world leaders would die for and most of his predecessors could only dream of.
13 March 2014
Pope popular in US but sex scandals cast long shadowA year after being chosen Pope Francis is very popular with American Catholics though his handling of the pedophile priests' scandal left many underwhelmed, a new study found.
06 March 2014
Malaysia's highest court takes up use of 'Allah' by CatholicsHundreds of Muslims demonstrated Wednesday outside Malaysia's highest court as it took up the Catholic Church's bid to be allowed to refer to God as "Allah" in a case that has increased tensions in the multi-ethnic nation.
05 March 2014
Barefoot hordes in spectacular Philippine Catholic paradeHundreds of thousands of barefoot devotees poured into Manila Thursday for one of the world's biggest Catholic parades honouring an ebony statue of Jesus Christ they believe has miraculous powers.
09 January 2014
Huge crowds hold Madrid mass after new abortion lawTens of thousands of Roman Catholics joined in an open-air mass in central Madrid on Sunday to celebrate the Holy Family, just days after the Spanish government agreed to tighten the abortion law.
30 December 2013
Australia Church child sex inquiry urges sweeping changesAn Australian state inquiry into the handling of child sex cases by the Catholic Church on Wednesday said religious leaders trivialised the problem and recommended concealment of abuse should be a crime.
13 November 2013
Malaysia Catholic newspaper loses fight to use 'Allah'An appeals panel ruled Monday that a Malaysian Catholic newspaper could not use "Allah" to refer to the Christian God, in a case that sparked attacks on places of worship three years ago.
17 October 2013
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."