Pope faces key test with vote on divorcees, gaysPope Francis was set to sort his allies from his enemies with a Vatican vote on a document drafted opening the Catholic Church's doors to remarried divorcees and gays.
Sudanese Christian woman spared death sentence meets PopeA Sudanese Christian woman whose death sentence for renouncing Islam sparked a global outcry that eventually led to an acquittal, met Pope Francis after arriving in Italy en route to the United States.
25 July 2014
Pope begins Middle East 'pilgrimage' in JordanPope Francis arrives in Jordan Saturday at the start of a Middle East tour aiming to boost ties with Muslims and Jews as well as easing an age-old rift within Christianity itself.
24 May 2014
South Korean cardinal in first visit to NorthA South Korean cardinal visited the North on Wednesday in the first trip of its kind, an official said, ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to Seoul that Catholic authorities hope will promote peace between the neighbours.
21 May 2014
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.