China and the Vatican agree to extend an agreement on appointing bishops

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government said Tuesday that it had agreed with the Vatican to extend a provisional agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China for four more years. The 2018 agreement, extended twice previously, was an attempt under Pope Francis to bridge...

Pope names 21 new cardinals, significantly increasing the pool who will one day elect his successor

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, significantly increasing the size of the College of Cardinals and further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor. They include a man who will be the oldest cardinal — Monsignor...

Eva Vergara, longtime AP Chile correspondent, dies at 68

Chilean journalist Eva Vergara, who in her four decades at The Associated Press covered stories including the first protests against the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet and revealed key information about abuses by members of the Catholic Church, died Tuesday. She was 68. ...

Catholic reform debate launched by Pope Francis leans away from ordained roles for women

ROME (AP) — Debate was leaning away from allowing women to take on ordained roles in the Catholic Church as the second phase of Pope Francis’ reform project opened Wednesday with an agenda topped by calls for women to take up more positions of responsibility Francis presided...

Pope leads top cardinals in atoning for a host of sins ahead of a new phase of reform effort

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis launched the second phase of his big Catholic reform project Tuesday by asking forgiveness for a host of sins, reasoning that the church must atone for its transgressions if it wants to re-establish credibility with the faithful. Fresh off a difficult visit...

PHOTO COLLECTION: Religion Pope Francis Visits Belgium

Pope ends troubled Belgium visit by doubling down on abortion and women and praising abuse victims

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis wrapped up a troubled visit to Belgium on Sunday by doubling down on his traditional views on women and abortion and demanding that Catholic bishops stop covering up for predator priests — a scandal that has devastated the church’s credibility around...

Pope Francis suggests Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon are disproportionate and immoral

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis suggested Sunday that Israel's attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been “immoral” and disproportionate, saying its military domination has gone beyond the rules of war. Francis was asked en route home from Belgium about Israel’s...

Belgian Catholic university denounces visiting pope's views on women after he digs in on their role

BRUSSELS (AP) — Pope Francis’ burdensome trip through Belgium reached new lows on Saturday when defiant Catholic university women demanded to his face a “paradigm change” on women’s issues in the church and then expressed deep disappointment when Francis dug in. The...

Pope gets an earful from Belgian king and abuse victims over scandals and failures to respond

BRUSSELS (AP) — On a brutal day for the frail and aging Pope Francis, the king of Belgium, its prime minister and the rector of the Catholic university that invited him here all ripped into the institution he heads for a spectrum of sins: for covering up cases of clergy sex abuse and being far...