Vatican gives green light to devotion at a site in Bosnia where the Madonna reportedly appeared

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Thursday gave the green light for Catholics to continue flocking to a southern Bosnian village where children reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary, offering its approval for devotion at one of the most contested sites of Roman Catholic practice in recent...

87 and hobbled, Pope Francis goes off-script in Asia and reminds world he can still draw a crowd

DILI, East Timor (AP) — It was the farthest trip of his pontificate and one of the longest papal trips ever in terms of days on the road and distance traveled. But Pope Francis, age 87, hobbled by bad knees and bent over with sciatica, appeared to be having the time of his life. ...

This new Mexican blessed is considered a protector of life from conception. Who was Moisés Lira?

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Catholic Church is getting a new addition to its ranks of “blessed,” with the beatification of the Rev. Moisés Lira. The beatification ceremony was taking Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Basilica, led by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, who was...

A review of some of Pope Francis' most memorable quotes over his papacy

On Friday, flying back to Rome from a lengthy trip to Asia, Pope Francis criticized both U.S. presidential candidates for what he called anti-life policies on abortion and migration. He advised American Catholics to choose who they think is the “lesser evil” in the upcoming U.S. elections. ...

Pope slams both Harris and Trump as 'against life' and urges Catholics to vote for 'lesser evil'

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis on Friday slammed both U.S. presidential candidates for what he called anti-life policies on abortion and migration, and he advised American Catholics to choose who they think is the “lesser evil” in the upcoming U.S. elections. ...

Pope says sex abuse is ‘demonic’ as he weighs in on new scandal in French church

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis called sexual abuse “demonic” on Friday as he weighed in on the latest sex assault revelations against a legendary French priest, Abbe Pierre, who devoted his life to advocating for the homeless. Abbé Pierre, who died in 2007, was one...

Pope makes new overture to China, calling Beijing ‘a promise and hope’ for the church

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis declared Friday that China was “a promise and a hope” for the Catholic Church, offering extensive praise for Beijing at the end of a four-nation tour through Asia and again expressed hope to one day visit. Francis’ comments, during...

Pope Francis slams both US presidential candidates for what he calls anti-life policies on abortion and migration

AP PHOTOS: See the best moments from Pope Francis' Asia-Pacific trip — his longest ever

BANGKOK (AP) — Pope Francis has wrapped up his longest and most challenging trip ever, which took the 87-year-old pontiff more than 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) by air to four countries in the Asia-Pacific from Sept. 2 to 13. He visited the country with the world's largest...

Pope ends Asia trip with same message at the start: Interfaith tolerance to heal troubled world

SINGAPORE (AP) — Pope Francis wrapped up his visit to Singapore on Friday by praising its tradition of interfaith harmony, closing out his four-nation trip through Asia with the same message of tolerance that he delivered at the start. Francis presided over a gathering of young...