Pope Francis leads the Angelus on the feast of the Epiphany from the window of his apartment overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Jan. 6, 2020.

Pope Francis prays for dialogue as tensions mount between U.S., Iran

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis led pilgrims in prayers for peace as tensions between the United States and Iran escalated following the assassination of a top Iranian general.

Pope Francis blesses a sick child in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 15, 2016, during a meeting with patients and workers of Rome's Bambino Gesu children's hospital. World Day of the Sick iis marked Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Pope Francis tells health workers to 'uphold truest human right, the right to life'

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VATICAN CITY -- Health care professionals always must "promote the dignity and life of each person and reject any compromise in the direction of euthanasia, assisted suicide or suppression of life, even in the case of terminal illness," Pope Francis said.

A woman pulls Pope Francis' hand as he greets people while walking to visit the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 31, 2019. At his Jan. 1 Angelus the pope apologized for the "bad example" he gave when he slapped this woman's hand.

Pope Francis apologizes for 'incident' with woman in St. Peter's Square

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis began the New Year with an apology for losing his patience the night before with a woman who grabbed his hand and yanked him closer to her while he was greeting people in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis speaks as he leads a prayer service on New Year's Eve in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 31, 2019.

God is at work in the world, Pope Francis says at prayer service closing 2019

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VATICAN CITY -- God sent his only begotten son into the world, where he continues to dwell in the hearts of men and women, "urging them to believe, to hope despite everything, and to love by working for the good of all," Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he leads his Christmas message and blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25, 2019.

Urbi et Orbi: May Christ soften hard hearts to bring peace

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VATICAN CITY -- The light of peace, hope and salvation brought into the world with the birth of Jesus is stronger than the darkness of war and despair, but spreading that light requires the cooperation of every person of good will, Pope Francis said in his Christmas address.

Pope Francis speaks during his annual audience to give Christmas greetings to members of the Roman Curia at the Vatican Dec. 21, 2019.

'Christendom no longer exists,' Pope Francis says, explaining revamp to Curia

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VATICAN CITY -- The ongoing reform of the Roman Curia is a necessary part of the Catholic Church's fidelity to its mission to proclaim the Gospel, recognizing that very few countries today can be described as "Christian" and that new ways of evangelizing are necessary, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis greets an elderly woman as he meets with people of the Banado Norte neighborhood in Asuncion, Paraguay, in this July 12, 2015, file photo. On Dec. 16, 2019, the eve of his 83rd birthday, Pope Francis met with a group of his peers, although many were a few years younger, and told them that "old age is a time of grace."

Old age is time of grace, Pope Francis tells elderly peers

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VATICAN CITY -- On the eve of his 83rd birthday, Pope Francis met with a group of his peers -- although many were a few years younger -- and told them that "old age is a time of grace."

Pope Francis accepts a gift during an audience with a group of international performers at the Vatican Dec. 13, 2019. The performers, including U.S. singer Lionel Richie, were scheduled to perform at the Vatican's Christmas concert the next day.

People's hearts yearn for God, not possessions, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN CITY -- The Christmas season is a time to reflect on what life is all about, Pope Francis told an international group of performers.

Pope Francis prays as he leads a prayer service at a Marian statue overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome Dec. 8, 2019, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Pope Francis prays for 'Normandy Summit'

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis offered prayers for a summit in France that will seek to bring an end to the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine.

Pope Francis embraces a woman as he greets disabled people during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 9, 2014. In a letter marking the U.N.'s International Day of Persons with Disabilities Dec. 3, 2019, the pope said humanity needs to "develop antibodies against a culture that considers some lives as class A and others as class B; this is a social sin!"

Defend dignity of persons with disabilities, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN CITY -- The dignity and rights of people with disabilities are increasingly threatened by a society that discriminates and views them as a burden, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis accepts offertory gifts as he celebrates a Mass for the Congolese Catholic community in Rome in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 1, 2019. The Mass included elements of Congolese culture.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass with Congolese at St. Peter's

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VATICAN CITY -- The sounds of ululations and drums and a litany of saints filled St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 1 as Pope Francis celebrated Mass according to what is commonly called the Zairean Rite.

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