Vatican

The Vatican is the world's smallest country, ruled by the Pope, with its own laws, bank, and army. Formed in 1929, it holds billions in assets and global influence far beyond its tiny size.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary and member of the Augustinian order, is elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first Augustinian pontiff and signalling a new chapter for the Catholic Church.

Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American and North American pontiff in Catholic Church history.

Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo is facing exclusion from the conclave vote, as a lack of record-keeping has resulted in the Cardinal not knowing whether he is 79 or 80, the cap for all candidates.

Following Pope Francis's death, interest in papal-themed films like Conclave, The Two Popes and The Young Pope has surged as audiences reflect on the future of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican has reported a second miracle that can soon make Blessed Carlo Acutis, a Saint.

Pope Francis apologised for slapping the hand of a woman who grabbed him on New Year's Eve.

The Vatican has created a smart wearable device for praying.

Former Irish president Mary McAleese has strongly criticized the Catholic Church over a lack of gender inclusion and LGBT rights.

A Vatican magazine has denounced how nuns are often treated like indentured servants in the Roman Catholic Church.

A Vatican gendarme intercepted her and she was detained. Femen's website identified her as Alisa Vinogradova and called her a "sextremist".

The pope took particular aim at areas of global tension where President Donald Trump is playing a critical role.

The instructions explicitly rule out selling the hair strands, hands, teeth and other body parts of saints that often fetch high prices in online auctions.

Australian commission publishes report that finds "catastrophic failures" by Catholic Church to address child sex abuse allegations and calls on Vatican to overhaul celibacy rule.

The head of the Catholic church suggested that part of the Lord's Prayer was "not a good translation" and suggested it be changed.

Islamic terror group Isis has unveiled a poster urging jihadists to attack the Vatican in the run up to Christmas.

Isis has threatened 'Christmas blood' in a newly released poster depicting a masked jihadi driving a BMW full of explosives towards the Vatican.

The Pope got the keys to a fancy new Lamborghini but he won't be tooling around the Vatican gardens in it.

Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi's book Original Sin claims priests sexually abused teenage boys at a St. Pius X pre-seminary for middle- and high-schoolers in the Vatican.

Vatican spokesperson confirms cigarettes will no longer be sold at shop in city-state from 2018 because of their health hazards.

Top Catholic Church officials worked behind the scenes to control the sex abuse scandal and keep it from authorities as well as parishioners.

The latest saints were proclaimed Sunday during a Mass celebrated by Francis in St. Peter's Square.

Italian priest Maurizio Pallu has been kidnapped by gunmen during a robbery in Nigeria's southern Benin City.

Libero Milone claims he was forcibly removed after discovering 'irregularities' in city state.

Case would be major embarrassment for Pope Francis who has pledged "zero tolerance" for sexual abuse.

Pontiff and Patriarch Bartholomew I blame moral decay and greed for the harm done to the planet.

New videos threaten terrorist carnage in Italy.

The Vatican will decide the fate of the priest.

The priest, Arnel Lagarejos, has been accused of sexually abusing a girl, aged 13, multiple times.

Move in line with Pope Francis teaching against 'habit of wasting and throwing away' says Vatican official.