Faith

Pope Francis, cardinals and bishops pray during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this file photo from Nov. 2, 2022. As of June 2, 2023, two-thirds of the members of the College of Cardinals who are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope are cardinals created by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis has named two-thirds of cardinals eligible to elect his successor

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Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the retired archbishop of Naples, celebrated his 80th birthday June 2 and, consequently, became ineligible to enter a conclave to elect a new pope.

A Vatican City flag, slightly different from the official version, waves outside the Jesuit headquarters in Rome June 1, 2023.

Vexing vexillology: Even the Vatican gets its flag wrong

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The flag of Vatican City, yellow and white with crossed keys under the papal tiara, is incorrect in many emojis, flying outside the United Nations and often even on Vatican buildings.

Pope Francis and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, left, pray before the pope spent three hours speaking with and answering questions from bishops during the spring assembly of the Italian bishops' conference at the Vatican May 22, 2023. The pope has asked Cardinal Zuppi, president of the bishops' conference, to lead a peace mission for Ukraine.

Cardinal Zuppi, Pope Francis' peace envoy, talks about war in Ukraine

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"War is a pandemic. It involves us all," said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Italian prelate chosen by Pope Francis to lead an initiative for peace in Ukraine.

A car enters the Sant'Anna entrance to Vatican City State guarded by Swiss Guards and Vatican gendarmes May 19, 2023. A man forcibly drove past security check points to enter the Vatican May 18 before he was arrested and placed in a Vatican detention cell.

Man arrested after car breaches Vatican gate, drawing gunfire from police

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A man with apparent psychiatric problems forced his way through a Vatican security gate late May 18 by speeding past Swiss Guards and Vatican gendarmes in a vehicle before being apprehended in a Vatican courtyard.

The flag and crest of Vatican City State are described in the "fundamental law" of the tiny independent nation. Pope Francis issued a new version of the law, which was published by the Vatican May 13, 2023.

Pope Francis issues new 'fundamental law' for Vatican City State

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Pope Francis updated the "Fundamental Law of Vatican City State," opening the possibility that laypeople can be members of its governing commission and emphasizing that the independence of the city-state is essential for the mission of the Holy See.

Pope Francis meets with Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary, the former head of external relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, in the Vatican nunciature in Budapest April 29, 2023.

Mystery mission: Details murky on Pope Francis' push for peace in Ukraine

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When Pope Francis told reporters the Vatican had some kind of "mission" underway to promote an end to the war in Ukraine, journalists naturally were intrigued.

Pope Francis listens to a question from Spanish journalist Eva Fernández during his flight from Hungary back to Rome April 30, 2023.

Pope Francis on plane talks about Ukraine, returning artifacts to Canada

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The Holy See has a project underway related to peace between Russia and Ukraine, but Pope Francis told reporters he could not talk about it yet.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal gives Pope Francis a book during a meeting in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican April 27, 2023. The book contained photos documenting the damage inflicted on Ukraine by Russian bombing.

Pope Francis meets Ukrainian prime minister at Vatican

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After a half-hour private meeting in the library of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis gave the prime minister of Ukraine a bronze plaque featuring a bird and a flower alongside the inscription, "Peace is a fragile flower."

Xavière Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, speaks to Iacopo Scaramuzzi, a reporter for La Repubblica, in the Vatican press office April 26, 2023. The Vatican had just announced Pope Francis' decision to have women and laymen as voting members of the synod.

Pope Francis decides women will be voting members of Synod of Bishops

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At least three dozen women will be voting members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October, Pope Francis has decided.

The top of the processional cross that will be used at the coronation of King Charles III in May is seen on the altar of an Anglican parish in Llandudo, Wales, April 19, 2023. Relics of the Christ's cross, a gift from Pope Francis, are under glass in the centre of the processional cross.

Vatican sends relic of true cross to Britain's King Charles

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As Britain's King Charles III walks into Westminster Abbey for his coronation, he will walk behind a processional cross containing a relic of Christ's cross given to the king by Pope Francis.

Workers prepare St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for Holy Week celebrations March 31, 2023. Pope Francis will be present in the square for the Palm Sunday Mass, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis set to leave hospital after three-day stay for bronchitis

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Pope Francis enjoyed a pizza "party" with staff on his second night at Rome's Gemelli hospital and was expected to be released from the hospital April 1, the Vatican press office said.

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