Pope Francis
Cardinal George Pell walks free after convictions overturned

Cardinal George Pell walks free after convictions overturned
Former Vatican treasurer was serving a six-year sentence for child sex abuse
7 Apr 2020
Instant Opinion: Boris ‘playing hardball’ in Brussels

Instant Opinion: Boris ‘playing hardball’ in Brussels
Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Tuesday 3 March
3 Mar 2020
The meaning of Lent - and ten popular things to give up

The meaning of Lent - and ten popular things to give up
From coffee to complaining, Lent offers a unique opportunity to give up our vices
24 Feb 2020
Pope Francis steps back from allowing married priests

Pope Francis steps back from allowing married priests
Progressives hoped the pontiff would make an exception to the 1,000-year-old tradition in the Amazon region
13 Feb 2020
Instant Opinion: Isis is ‘very happy’ amid chaos in Iraq

Instant Opinion: Isis is ‘very happy’ amid chaos in Iraq
Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Tuesday 14 January
14 Jan 2020
Retired Pope Benedict warns against relaxing celibacy rules

Retired Pope Benedict warns against relaxing celibacy rules
Benedict says he ‘cannot keep silent’ on the issue in new book
14 Jan 2020
Pope Francis lifts ‘pontifical secret’ rule in abuse cases

Pope Francis lifts ‘pontifical secret’ rule in abuse cases
Sex abuse cases will no longer be held in secret as Church wrestles with the issue
18 Dec 2019

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Is the Vatican facing a cash crisis?

Is the Vatican facing a cash crisis?
Sex scandals and poor management hit papal coffers, claims new book
21 Oct 2019
What world leaders think of Donald Trump

What world leaders think of Donald Trump
Dalai Lama says US president suffers from ‘lack of moral principle’
27 Jun 2019
Five things the Vatican says about gender

Five things the Vatican says about gender
Catholic Church disappoints liberal followers with new ‘Male and Female He Created Them’ treatise
11 Jun 2019
Pope Francis: Lionel Messi is great, but he’s not God

Pope Francis: Lionel Messi is great, but he’s not God
The Pontiff warns fans against comparing the Barcelona striker with God
2 Apr 2019
Can the Catholic Church find redemption?

Can the Catholic Church find redemption?
100 senior bishops meet this week to address clerical sexual abuse, ‘the most serious crisis since the Reformation’
19 Feb 2019
Two Cardinals demoted by Pope amid sex abuse scandals

Two Cardinals demoted by Pope amid sex abuse scandals
George Pell and Francisco Ossa removed from Pope Francis’s inner circle
13 Dec 2018
Vatican says Pope considering visit to North Korea

Vatican says Pope considering visit to North Korea
Accepting Kim Jong Un’s invitation would ‘legitimise’ oppressive regime, warn analysts
19 Oct 2018
Plot to oust Pope Francis exposes rifts within the Church

Plot to oust Pope Francis exposes rifts within the Church
Archbishop breaks cover and calls for pontiff to resign as ideological battle lines are drawn
29 Aug 2018
Pope Francis set for hostile reception in Ireland 

Pope Francis set for hostile reception in Ireland
Pontiff to touch down in radically changed Catholic country amid sexual abuse ‘perfect storm’
24 Aug 2018
Catholic abuse scandal threatens Pope Francis’ legacy

Catholic abuse scandal threatens Pope Francis’ legacy
Clerical cover-up presents ‘crucial test’ for papacy following earlier failures
21 Aug 2018
Pope Francis calls for end to death penalty

Pope Francis calls for end to death penalty
Shift in Catholic teaching could have a global impact
3 Aug 2018
Pope’s Lamborghini Huracan sells for £630,000 at auction
Pope’s Lamborghini Huracan sells for £630,000 at auction
Proceeds of the one-off supercar signed by pontiff will go to charity
15 May 2018
Pope Francis announces visit to Ireland in August

Pope Francis announces visit to Ireland in August
Pontiff to bypass Northern Ireland during first papal trip to the island in nearly 40 years
21 Mar 2018
VIDEO: Pope halts Popemobile to aid injured policewoman

VIDEO: Pope halts Popemobile to aid injured policewoman
Pontiff leaves motorcade to check on officer who was thrown from her horse
19 Jan 2018
Pope Francis wants change to Lord’s Prayer

Pope Francis wants change to Lord’s Prayer
Pontiff says current version is a mistranslation as God does not lead humans to sin
8 Dec 2017
Pope Francis and Suu Kyi avoid Rohingya crisis discussion

Pope Francis and Suu Kyi avoid Rohingya crisis discussion
Pontiff skirts issue of persecuted Muslim minority amid fears for Myanmar’s Catholic community
28 Nov 2017
Pope Francis begins risky Myanmar peace mission

Pope Francis begins risky Myanmar peace mission
Pontiff warned not to even say the word “Rohingya”
27 Nov 2017
Pope raises prospect of married priests

Pope raises prospect of married priests
Brazilian trial could effectively end priestly celibacy in the Catholic church
2 Nov 2017
Charlie's Army: The people fighting for Charlie Gard

Charlie's Army: The people fighting for Charlie Gard
They say they're helping a terminally ill baby, but critics argue campaigners have other interests
26 Jul 2017
Pope opens new path to sainthood

Pope opens new path to sainthood
Pope Francis adds fourth path to beatification for those who risk their lives in a heroic act of loving service to others
12 Jul 2017
Fake news: Seven bizarre stories that went viral

Fake news: Seven bizarre stories that went viral
From Pizzagate to Brexit, these are some of the biggest whoppers circulating online
31 Jan 2017
Pope Francis empowers priests to forgive abortion

Pope Francis empowers priests to forgive abortion
Terminating a pregnancy is a 'grave sin' but not an unforgivable one, Pontiff says
22 Nov 2016
Top ten viral videos 2015

Top ten viral videos 2015
From a ravenous rodent to Ronnie Pickering, the best viral videos of 2015 reached new heights
29 Dec 2015
Nobel Peace Prize goes to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet

Nobel Peace Prize goes to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet
Democracy group is the surprise winner, beating out firm favourites Angela Merkel and Pope Francis
9 Oct 2015
Pope Francis in the US and Cuba – five highlights

Pope Francis in the US and Cuba – five highlights
Pontiff's week-long tour has included a warning on climate change and a meeting with a young devotee
24 Sep 2015
CHRISTMAS 2014: World leaders' messages

CHRISTMAS 2014: World leaders' messages
Pope Francis launches 'blistering attack' on Vatican bureaucrats, while others honour victims of disaster
24 Dec 2014