Pope Francis

Holy See officially recognises Palestinian state ahead of canonisation of mother Marie Alphonsine and Mariam Baouardy.

Castro is in the Vatican to thank the Catholic pontiff for his role in boosting US-Cuba ties in "strictly private" talks.

Pontiff: 'Why is it taken for granted that women must earn less than men?'

Investigators believe St. Peter's Square throngs were target

Kurdish leaders acknowledge their people's role in the genocide - but Turkish leaders refuse to do likewise.

Critics accuse prelate of fostering 'division and intolerance'

Turkish authorities continue to heap scorn on Vatican pontiff over his Armenian genocide comments.

Mehmet Görmez, Turkey's head of religious affairs, says pontiff's comment on Armenian killings is baseless.

Pope Francis angers Turkey by using the term 'genocide' to describe the killing of 1.5m Armenians

Vatican's silence on French government's proposal of gay senior diplomat Laurent Stefanini as envoy interpreted as rejection.

Pope Francis led the traditional Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square in the Vatican City during a torrential downpour.

Read the official Vatican translation of the Pope's homily at the Easter Vigil in St Peter's Basilica

Pontiff condemns 'senseless' killings of Christians after al-Shabaab Kenya attack.

During Maundy Thursday mass in St Peter's Basilica the Pope heightened speculation that he might step down due to exhaustion

A pizza maker jumped a barricade and hand-delivered a pizza to Pope Francis during his visit to the southern Italian city of Naples on 21 March, as he was being greeted by cheering crowds on his popemobile.

Drawing a crowd of thousands, Francis urged residents of Naples' Scampia district not to lose hope.

Pontiff cites Russian writer to condemn capital punishment as unacceptable.

Pontiff calls only the 27th Jubilee in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

Cover of satirical publication includes cartoons of 'pains in the ass' and 'enemies' but not the prophet.

Course will be available in seven languages and will help communities identify abusers and help victims

Catholic Church clerical sex abuse commission wants to ensure bishops are held accountable for cover-ups

Muslim protesters hold placards quoting Pope Francis: 'insult my mum and I will punch you'

Diego Neria Lejárraga was telephoned by Pontiff after writing of his personal pain.

The case surfaced when the victim wrote to Pope Francis alleging he was sexually molested as an altar boy.

Few days earlier, Pope Francis said Catholics did not need to 'breed like rabbits'.

Instead the pontiff warned 'responsible parenthood' should be the means to limit children.

Pope Francis embraces weeping 12-year-old after she asks why God allows children to go through pain.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala kills woman at papal mass.

Thousands brave appalling weather to attend the pontiff's mass in city devastated by Typhoon Haiyan

Pope Francis has received a rock star's welcome in the Philippines.