site.news_by_theme pope
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 prays for peace in Syria, Korea on first Easter
Pope Francis prayed for a "political solution" in Syria and for "reconciliation" on the Korean peninsula in his first Easter Sunday message in front of a crowd in St Peter's Square.
01 April 2013
Pope to celebrate first Easter vigil
Pope Francis is to celebrate his first Easter vigil on Saturday after praying for peace in the Middle East and stronger Christian-Muslim dialogue at a torch-lit ceremony for Good Friday.
31 March 2013
Pope to stamp personal touch on Easter celebrations
Pope Francis will stamp his personal touch on Easter celebrations starting by washing the feet of young prisoners on Thursday as he stresses the importance of reaching out to those in need.
28 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
Taiwan row a first diplomatic test for Pope Francis
China's angry reaction to Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's attendance at the inauguration of Pope Francis on Tuesday is the first taste of a long-running dispute..
19 March 2013
Sparks of humour in Pope Francis's first days
Starting with the historic moment when the first Latin American pontiff greeted the crowds in St Peter's Square after his election on Wednesday, Pope Francis has shown a lively sense of humour.
18 March 2013
Argentine grandmothers attack Pope over 'Dirty War' era
An Argentinian human rights group set up to find babies stolen during the country's "Dirty War" on Friday accused newly elected Pope Francis of failing to speak out against the country's former military rulers.
18 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.
15 March 2013
Russian Church predicts good ties with new Pope
The Russian Orthodox Church expects that newly elected Pope Francis will foster positive relations between the two churches.
15 March 2013
Pope Francis hailed, urged to work for peace
World leaders and Catholics hailed the election of Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina as the first Latin American pope on Wednesday, urging him to work for religious reconciliation and peace.
14 March 2013
Argentina's Bergoglio elected first Latin American pope
Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis on Wednesday, becoming the first Latin American pontiff in an astonishing decision that raises hopes of greater openness for the troubled Catholic Church.
14 March 2013
All eyes on Vatican chimney as world awaits new pope
Cardinals prepared for a second day of conclave behind the Vatican's walls to elect a pope on Wednesday, with all eyes on a chimney that will signal when there is a new leader for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
13 March 2013
Odds stacked against an Asian pope
Catholics in Asia and other parts of the world where the Roman Catholic Church is growing fast would dearly like to see the cardinals choose an Asian pope for the first time in history.
12 March 2013
Breaking the silence -- secrets of the pope elections
The conclaves of cardinals which elect a new pope are laden with rituals and shrouded in secrecy, but tantalising details have emerged from previous votes of what really happens behind the sealed doors of the Sistine Chapel.
12 March 2013
Vatican readies Sistine Chapel for conclave to elect pope
Vatican workers made final preparations in the Sistine Chapel on Saturday after Roman Catholic cardinals voted to begin their conclave to elect a new pope under Michelangelo's famous frescoes next week.
09 March 2013
Sex abuse victims list 'dirty dozen' papal candidates
Clergy sex abuse victims listed a "dirty dozen" potential papal candidates Wednesday and urged the Roman Catholic Church to "get serious" about protecting children, helping victims and exposing corruption.
08 March 2013
Will the next pope be Italian?
After a Pole and a German, will the Roman Catholic Church revert to an Italian leader once again?
25 February 2013
Vatican's popeless interim -- the 'Sede Vacante'
After the pope's resignation on Thursday the Catholic Church will enter a period known as "Sede Vacante" ("Vacant Seat") in which a cardinal takes over interim powers before a new pope is elected.
22 February 2013