Dec 11, 2018 - 08:52 am .- The two religious sisters accused of embezzling from a California Catholic school face a criminal investigation, and will not be defended by their religious community.

Dec 10, 2018 - 12:01 pm .- Everyone should, according to his or her specific gifts, fight to protect the fundamental rights of individuals, Pope Francis said Monday in a message to an international gathering on the topic.

Dec 9, 2018 - 06:46 am .- “To prepare the way for the Lord who comes, it is necessary to take into account the demands of conversion,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Dec. 9.

Dec 8, 2018 - 08:43 am .- On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to imitate Mary’s deep trust and openness to God when faced with serious problems.

Dec 8, 2018 - 06:04 am .- Both Catholics and Protestants in Scotland are lamenting a shopping center's decision not to include a nativity scene in its Christmas display.

Dec 7, 2018 - 03:30 pm .- How the Church deals with clerical sexual misconduct when it does not involve minors remains a thorny issue, but an increasingly urgent one.

Dec 7, 2018 - 10:02 am .- Ahead of the beatification Saturday of Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, Pope Francis said martyrs have a special place in the Church.

Dec 7, 2018 - 09:30 am .- As the Vatican illuminated its 65-foot Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square Friday, Pope Francis shared the deeper meaning found in the traditional festive spruce.

Dec 6, 2018 - 11:01 am .- Pope Francis Thursday published new laws governing the administration of Vatican City State, including the formation of a new oversight body for verifying departmental compliance with regulations and procedures within the governorate.

Dec 6, 2018 - 05:16 am .- Pope Francis will travel to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates Feb. 3-5 to participate in an international interfaith meeting, the Vatican announced Thursday.

Dec 5, 2018 - 10:36 am .- Growing up next door to Daytona Beach in Florida, Rich Varano spent a lot of time making things out of sand with his dad. He never imagined it could turn into his full-time gig – but 30 years later, he cannot imagine doing anything else.

Dec 5, 2018 - 03:45 am .- Learning to pray well is a continual process, but should always start from a place of humility, as Jesus demonstrated in the Gospels, Pope Francis said Wednesday.

Dec 3, 2018 - 08:44 pm .- For the 50th anniversary of a Jesuit college in Rome, Pope Francis challenged members of the college community to reflect on the origins of the Society of Jesus as they seek spiritual fruit.

Dec 3, 2018 - 11:13 am .- In a speech on Monday, Pope Francis called for humility as a path to world peace, urging world leaders and citizens of every nation to work for an end to violence and a greater respect for human dignity.

Dec 2, 2018 - 10:05 pm .- The Board of the European Payments Council (EPC) approved last month the extension of the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to include Vatican City State and the Holy See. Mostly seen as insider news, the decision in fact bespeaks a considerable boost to the financial system of the Vatican.

Dec 2, 2018 - 05:50 am .- Pope Francis Sunday lit a candle, a symbol of hope, to pray for the children affected by violence and war in Syria and across the Middle East.

Dec 1, 2018 - 09:38 am .- As the Advent season begins, it is a good time to reflect on the Christian call to joyful expectancy, finding hope and consolation in waiting for Christ, Pope Francis said Saturday.

Nov 30, 2018 - 05:00 pm .- In a book-length interview to be published next week, Pope Francis addressed gifts and challenges for clerical and religious vocations, among them the challenge of homosexuality in the clergy.

Nov 30, 2018 - 01:23 pm .- On the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, Pope Francis told the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople that while the Holy Spirit has in recent years prompted a “fraternal dialogue” between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, both Churches should work to achieve full communion with one another.

Nov 30, 2018 - 11:03 am .- Pope Francis met with dozens of children suffering from tumors in an audience Nov. 30.