January 8, 2020 Pope Francis agrees to papal kiss after hand-slapping controversy with one condition: 'Don't bite!' "I'll give you a kiss, but keep calm," he said. "Don't bite!
January 8, 2020 Pope Francis asks everyone to pray for Australia amid devastating fires Pope Francis is calling on the faithful to pray for Australia as major fires rage across the nation.
January 1, 2020 Pope Francis apologizes for losing his patience after slapping woman’s hand Pope Francis has apologized after he appeared to lose his cool when a woman violently grabbed his hand while he greeted pilgrims at the Vatican on New Year’s Eve.
December 31, 2019 Pope Francis struggles to free himself from woman in St. Peter's Square, video shows A visibly annoyed Pope Francis slapped away a woman's hand and pulled himself away from her while greeting a crowd in St. Peter's Square Tuesday night.
December 31, 2019 2020 is the 'Year of the Bible' for many Christians Christian leaders have a vision for 2020 as the Year of the Bible for millions around the world.
December 25, 2019 Pope Francis delivers Christmas Day message of hope in face of darkness Pope Francis offered a message of hope during his traditional Christmas Day Mass in St. Peter’s Square, telling the thousands who attended the service that “the light of Christ is greater” than the darkness “in human hearts” and “in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts.”
December 24, 2019 Pope Francis marks Christmas Eve with reminder that God loves 'even the worst of us' Pope Francis assured the faithful on Christmas Eve that God loves everyone — “even the worst of us” — as he celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ after a less-than-joyful year of scandals and opposition.
December 22, 2019 Pope Francis warns of ‘rigidity,’ says church must adapt or it will become increasingly irrelevant Pope Francis, in a Saturday message delivered from the Vatican, took aim at conservative and traditionalist Catholics, warning that “rigidity” in living out the Christian faith was turning people away, and that the church must adapt to a post-Christian west.
December 17, 2019 Pope Francis lifts 'pontifical secret' in clergy sex abuse cases used to protect pedophiles, silence victims Pope Francis has lifted the "pontifical secret," the highest degree of confidentiality that has been used in sexual abuse cases to protect pedophiles and silence victims. The change , announced Tuesday, would open the door for the Vatican to share information with the police and other local authorities and comes at a time when there has been a public push for more transparency in the Roman Catholic Church.
December 5, 2019 Pope Francis gifted Baltimore Ravens jersey while church members visit in Rome The Baltimore Ravens are sure to receive some additional blessings after Pope Francis was gifted a team jersey signed by star quarterback Lamar Jackson and head coach John Harbaugh.