Pope wraps up US tour with giant open-air mass
Pope Francis celebrated a giant outdoor mass in Philadelphia, bringing to a close an electrifying US tour with an appeal for unity and family love, having met victims of church sex abuse.
Trump disputes pope on climate change
Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump said he thinks Pope Francis is wrong on climate change.
Pope prepares to take US bow after Cuba stopover
Pope Francis headed for Cuba on the first-leg of a trip that will also take him to the United States for his most high-profile overseas visit to date.
Pope feels 'used' by fake friends
Pope Francis says he has felt "used" by people claiming to be his friend since he became pontiff, in a radio interview touching on the personal side of his papacy.
Pope calls for every European parish to take in refugee family
Pope Francis called on every Catholic parish in Europe to take in a refugee family, saying the Vatican's two parishes would lead by example.
Pope Francis thanks US nuns after 'radical' claim
Pope Francis thanked American nuns in a television special to be aired Friday, defusing tensions that arose after an investigation under the previous pontiff accused them of promoting "radical feminist themes"
Pope to lead thousands through New York's Central Park
Pope Francis will lead a vast procession of thousands through Central Park during his historic visit to the United States later this month.
Israel PM criticised for eating at 'temple of gourmet dining'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced criticism from ultra-Orthodox politicians for having eaten in a non-kosher restaurant serving rabbit, escargot and lobster.
Tens of thousands take holy dip at India's Kumbh Mela
Tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims and holy men washed away their sins with a religious dip on the first main bathing day of India's Kumbh Mela festival.
Pope urged to condemn gay unions as unnatural
Nearly half a million Catholics have signed a petition urging Pope Francis to condemn same sex unions as unnatural and rule out allowing divorced believers who remarry to receive communion.
Pope creates global prayer day for 'Care of Creation'
Pope Francis has established an annual day of global prayer "for the Care of Creation" to boost support for the environment.
Judge keeps door open for Katy Perry to buy convent
A US judge kept the door open for pop star Katy Perry to buy a former LA convent at the centre of an unholy real estate battle, although a final decision remains on hold.
Afghanistan territory used by terrorist from Central Asia, China and Russia: Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai
Terrorists from Central Asia, China, Russia and other countries use the territory of Afghanistan, said the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
Pope takes message of inclusion to Bolivia
Pope Francis greeted Bolivians with a message of inclusio, a central theme of his three-nation tour to his home continent.
Pope Francis celebrates Ecuador mass with huge crowd
Pope Francis celebrated an open-air mass with hundreds of thousands of faithful under scorching heat in Ecuador, highlighting the importance of family on his return to his home region.
Pope Francis takes message to forgotten corners of home continent
Pope Francis embarks on an eight-day visit to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, three of South America's 'peripheral' countries which share common challenges in addressing poverty.
IS suicide bomber kills 25 at Kuwait Shiite mosque
A suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque in the Kuwaiti capital during prayers, killing at least 25 people.
Charleston church holds first service since massacre
The historic black church in South Carolina where a white gunman murdered nine African Americans, held its first church service since the massacre.
Tens of thousands pray at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa for Ramadan
Tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers streamed through Jerusalem's Old City to one of Islam's most revered sites as Israel eased restrictions for the fasting month of Ramadan.
Pope to blame profiteers for killing the planet
Pope Francis will call on the world's leaders to pull together to fight global warming, publishing his hotly-anticipated thesis on the environment.