Faith

Pope Francis announced 15 new cardinals electors from "14 nations of every continent" to show the link between the Vatican and the churches across the world.

Pope Francis names 15 new cardinal electors, most from global south

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VATICAN CITY - Underscoring the geographical diversity of his selections, Pope Francis named 15 cardinal electors "from 14 nations of every continent, showing the inseparable link between the church of Rome and the particular churches present in the world."

Pope Francis greets people after visiting the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square after a New Year's Eve prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

New Year's Eve is time for examination of conscience, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - The end of one calendar year and the beginning of another is the perfect occasion to reflect on how well people have used the time and gifts God has given them -- especially how well people have helped the poor, Pope Francis said.

Vatican honors murdered missionaries, kidnapped priests, Ebola victims

Vatican honors murdered missionaries, kidnapped priests, Ebola victims

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VATICAN CITY - In addition to its annual report on church workers murdered during the year, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples highlighted the sacrifice of pastoral workers who died of Ebola contracted while caring for others and reminded Catholics that the fates of five kidnapped priests remain unknown.

ope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 26.

Pope Francis: Prolong Christmas joy by serving others, witnessing to Christ

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VATICAN CITY - The day after Christmas, Pope Francis warned Catholics about two related temptations: giving Christmas a "false, sugary coating" and not putting the faith one professes into action.

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25.

On Christmas, Pope France urges people to hear the cry of suffering children

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VATICAN CITY - The crying of Baby Jesus is not the only cry people should hear on Christmas; many children around the world are crying because of war, maltreatment and abuse, Pope Francis said.

People hold a banner during an Oct. 12 demonstration in Berlin against the Islamic State militant group, known as ISIS, and its insurgent attacks on the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani.

Pope says all religious leaders must condemn Islamic State

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis deplored the "abuses and inhuman acts" of Islamic State militants, and called on all religious leaders to condemn them "unanimously and unambiguously." He also said he hoped to travel to the Middle East to comfort persecuted Christians there.

Pope Francis greets U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, patron of the Knights and Dames of Malta, during an audience to exchange Christmas greetings with members of the Roman Curia in Clementine Hall at the Vatican Dec. 22.

Pope warns Vatican officials of 'spiritual Alzheimer's,' other ills

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' Christmas greeting to the Vatican bureaucracy this year was an extended warning against a host of spiritual ills to which he said Vatican officials are prone, including "spiritual Alzheimer's," "existential schizophrenia," publicity-seeking, the "terrorism of gossip" and even a poor sense of humor.

Pope Francis delivers his blessing during an audience to exchange Christmas greetings with members of the Roman Curia in Clementine Hall at the Vatican Dec. 22.

Pope: Don't miss Christ this Christmas; take time, be ready, let him in

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VATICAN CITY - God is knocking to come into people's lives, so be attentive, humble and courageous to let him in, Pope Francis said.

U.S. Franciscan Father Michael Perry, minister-general of the Order of Friars Minor.

'Questionable' financial activities leave Franciscans in serious debt

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VATICAN CITY - Ineffective budgetary oversight and "questionable" financial activities have plunged the Order of Friars Minor into significant debt and an extremely serious financial situation, its minister general said.

Pope Francis greets one of eight poor people at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 17, the pope's 78th birthday. A group of the poor were invited to the audience in celebration of the pope's birthday.

First showers, now sleeping bags: Pope Francis’ birthday gift to the homeless

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis marked his 78th birthday by giving hundreds of sleeping bags to the homeless in Rome, Vatican officials said Dec. 18.

Pope Francis is greeted by 13 new ambassadors to the Holy See as they present their letters of credential at the Vatican Dec. 18. During the special audience, the pope expressed his joy over the historic turning point in U.S.-Cuba relations as the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic ties after half a century.

Pope Francis takes a victory lap after brokering U.S.-Cuba breakthrough

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis welcomed the renewal of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba Dec. 18, saying he was happy to see an end to a half-century standoff between the two nations.

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