Latest Pope Francis News

Pope acknowledges criticism and health issues but says in his new memoir he has no plans to retire

Mar. 15, 2024 06:41 AM EDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis says he has no plans to resign and isn’t suffering from any health problems that would require doing so, saying in a new memoir he still has “many projects to bring to fruition.” Francis, 87, made the comments in an autobiography, “Life: My...

Patriarch Neophyte, leader of Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church, dies at 78

Mar. 13, 2024 21:15 PM EDT

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria, who was the first elected head of the Orthodox Church in the post-communist Balkan country, died at a hospital in Sofia. He was 78. The Orthodox Holy Synod said Wednesday in a statement that the patriarch had been hospitalized...

Virgin of Charity unites all Cubans — Catholics, Santeria followers, exiled and back on the island

Mar. 13, 2024 10:55 AM EDT

EL COBRE, Cuba (AP) — Ramon Nieblas fixed his tearful eyes on the small golden statue, a beloved icon of Cuba’s patron saint. Whispering, he asked the Virgin of Charity of Cobre for a miracle: Please save his sick son. “I came to pray for his health,” said Nieblas, a Cuban...

Today in History: March 13, Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina becomes Pope Francis

Mar. 13, 2024 00:22 AM EDT

Today in History Today is Wednesday, March 13, the 74th day of 2024. There are 293 days left in the year. Today’s highlight in history: On March 13, 2013, Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope, choosing the name Francis. he was the first...

Vatican diplomats seek to defuse outrage over Pope Francis' Ukraine 'white flag' comments

Mar. 12, 2024 08:59 AM EDT

ROME (AP) — The Vatican secretary of state is seeking to defuse outrage over Pope Francis' latest diplomatic foray, insisting in media interviews that a primary condition for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine is an end to Russia’s aggression and that any peace must be a “just peace.” ...

Italy abuse case highlights how scandal slowly beginning to come to light in pope's backyard

Mar. 11, 2024 16:00 PM EDT

ROME (AP) — The clergy sexual abuse scandal is slowly gathering steam in Italy with increasing media coverage, criminal convictions and the launch Monday of an investigative podcast dedicated to a case that tangentially involved Pope Francis. A Sicilian court last week convicted a...

The Vatican unveils its project for the Venice Biennale of Art: inside a women's prison

Mar. 11, 2024 09:37 AM EDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Monday unveiled its groundbreaking project for the upcoming Venice Biennale of Art: A multimedia installation located inside Venice’s women’s prison, created with the active participation of inmates and artists and open to the public under strict security...

Pope Francis' 'white flag' comment is met by criticism from Ukraine and its allies

Mar. 10, 2024 14:32 PM EDT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian and allied officials Sunday criticized Pope Francis for saying that Kyiv should have the “courage” to negotiate an end to the war with Russia, a statement many interpreted as a call for Ukraine to surrender. The foreign ministers of Ukraine and...

Pope Francis: Ukraine should have the courage of the 'white flag,' negotiate end of war with Russia

Mar. 09, 2024 15:48 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis said in an interview that Ukraine, facing a possible defeat, should have the courage to negotiate an end to the war with Russia and not be ashamed to sit at the same table to carry out peace talks. The pope made his appeal during an interview recorded last...

Pope meets with child protection board as events outside Vatican show abuse scandal isn't going away

Mar. 07, 2024 12:34 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis sought to encourage his child protection board on Thursday to continue helping victims, as new developments outside the Vatican underscored that the Catholic Church’s clergy sex abuse scandal isn’t going away anytime soon. Francis met with his...