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A homeless woman sits with her belongings as she waits for a friend leaving the Vatican following a March 26 visit.

Pope Francis to open 30-bed homeless shelter a few steps from Vatican walls

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will open a homeless shelter on the edge of Vatican City, the latest move by the pontiff to help poor people in Rome.

Pope Francis gestures as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 10.

Pope OKs plan to investigate, judge bishops who fail to act on abuse

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved new procedures for the Vatican to investigate and judge claims of "abuse of office" by bishops who allegedly failed to protect minors and vulnerable adults from sex abuse.

The Vatican has released a new Arabic-language guidebook, the first of its kind, which aims to bring the culture of the Catholic Church to a new audience.

New Arabic-language Vatican guidebook aims to explain Catholic culture

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has released a new Arabic-language guidebook, the first of its kind, which aims to bring the culture of the Catholic Church to a new audience.

Pope Francis elevates the Eucharist during Mass outside the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome June 4. Pope Francis reminded the work of mission societies belongs to Jesus and reducing a group to functionalism will lead to ruin.

Pope Francis warns mission societies against becoming NGOs

VATICAN CITY - The mission-oriented agencies of the Church must guard against operating like nongovernmental organizations, empty of Christ's presence, Pope Francis said.

The Shroud of Turin is displayed during a preview for journalists at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, April 18. A public exposition of the shroud, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus, runs from April 19 through June 24, 2015.

Pope helps homeless, poor in Rome make pilgrimage to Shroud of Turin

VATICAN CITY - With financial assistance from Pope Francis, a Rome parish led 50 homeless and poor people on a pilgrimage to see the Shroud of Turin June 4 and has provided the money needed for another Rome parish to do the same a week later.

Pueblo Indian Sister Mary Rosita Shiosee brings Communion to Aurelia Synella in Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, Oct. 30, 2014.

More Catholics, fewer receiving sacraments: New report maps changing Church

A new report mapping the Catholic Church’s more than 1.2 billion souls — on track to reach 1.64 billion by 2050 — holds some surprises.

And not all bode well for the Church’s future as it faces major demographic and social shifts.

Australian Cardinal George Pell leaves the opening session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 6, 2014.

Vatican defends Australian cardinal against charges he disregarded pedophile priests

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican threw its support behind its financial chief, Cardinal George Pell, on Monday (June 1), after he was accused of being “almost sociopathic” in his handling of clergy sex abuse by a leading member of a papal commission dedicated to tackling the issue.

Migrants wait to disembark from a tug boat in the Sicilian harbour of Pozzallo May 4. Pope Francis said that allowing migrants to die in boats is an “attack on life,” among others like abortion, euthanasia, war and terrorism.

Pope Francis lists abortion, unsafe workplaces among 'attacks on life'

VATICAN CITY - Abortion, abandoning migrants at sea, unsafe working conditions, malnutrition, terrorism and euthanasia are all "attacks on life," said Pope Francis.

A man repairs a bank sign on Via della Conciliazione, the road leading to the Vatican Jan. 29.

Finance watchdog agency praises Vatican bank reporting system

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's financial watchdog agency conducted its first routine on-site inspection of the Vatican bank to verify its compliance with regulations to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

A Nashville seminarian holds a cellphone Aug. 12 showing a video chat to a fellow seminarian in Rome. A former BBC executive will help reform the Vatican’s media services after being appointed to the media committee.

Vatican looks to reform its media operations, add multimedia

The Vatican is dragging its media machine into the 21st century, promising to promote social media and streamline its fragmented services with the help of a former BBC executive.

Bosnian woodcarver-sculptor Edin Hajderovac works on a chair for Pope Francis at his workshop in Zavidovici, Bosnia- Herzegovina, May 25. He and his father, Salem Hajderovac, are putting the finishing touches to the chair made from walnut trees, which Po pe Francis will use during his visit to Sarajevo. The father and son, both devoted Muslims, initiated the project in the belief that it will reflect the message of peace that the Catholic Church's top leader will bring to Bosnia.

Papal visits have brought hope to divided Bosnia, cardinal says

VATICAN CITY - A papal visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina brings hope, joy and some "soul" to this ethnically divided, Catholic-minority Balkan nation, the country's cardinal said.

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