Pope Francis tells couples not to substitute dogs and cats for children
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on June 2 warned married couples against substituting cats and dogs for children — a move that he said leads to the “bitterness of loneliness” in old age.
Indian cardinal's death leaves College of Cardinals with 214 members
VATICAN CITY - An Indian cardinal who had been the editor of a Catholic weekly newspaper before coming to Rome to serve as head of the Vatican Congregation for Eastern Churches died in Rome at the age of 90.
Vatican has named two bishops being investigated for abuse
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis told reporters May 26 that "three bishops are under investigation" for misdeeds related to the sexual abuse of minors and that "one has already been condemned and his penalty is being studied."
Vatican abuse prosecutor: More must be done to punish negligent bishops
DUBLIN - The Vatican's chief prosecutor of sex abuse crimes said the Church needs to do more to develop the process for punishing bishops who fail in their duty to protect children.
Cardinal Lacroix gets new role at Vatican
VATICAN CITY - Three months after he gave 19 new cardinals their red hats, Pope Francis gave new responsibilities to the 16 who are under the age of 80, including Quebec's Cardinal Gerald Lacroix.
Former Vatican No. 2 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone denies financial wrongdoing
VATICAN CITY - The Italian cardinal who served as the Vatican’s No. 2 official under Pope Benedict XVI has rejected allegations that he mishandled 15 million euros ($20 million) from Vatican bank accounts.
Vatican’s financial watchdog reports ‘notable’ spike in shady transactions
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican’s financial watchdog has reported a dramatic increase in suspicious transactions at the Vatican bank, but officials sought to downplay any rise in criminal activity.
Vatican says no movement (yet) on sainthood for Oscar Romero
VATICAN CITY - Despite fevered speculation in the media and across Latin America, the Vatican says Pope Francis has not advanced slain Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero toward sainthood — at least, not yet.
Pope Francis will take rabbi and Muslim leader with him to Holy Land
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will be accompanied on his first visit to the Middle East by Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Muslim leader Omar Abboud — two friends from Buenos Aires.
Vatican official voices opposition to automated weapons systems
VATICAN CITY - No matter how sophisticated and how many algorithms are programmed to help a drone or other machine make calculations before firing on a target, autonomous weapons systems could never comply with international human rights law, a Vatican official said.
Pope Paul VI to be beatified this fall
VATICAN CITY - After weeks of speculation, Pope Francis made it official on May 10 that Pope Paul VI could become the latest pope poised to become a saint after a miracle was accredited to Paul’s intercession.