The pontiff is marking Good Friday with a traditional services, but on Holy Thursday, he broke with tradition by washing the feet of migrants of many faiths.
Canonization is pricey: One journalist estimates half a million dollars is spent per candidate. Until now, it was spent with little oversight or documentation. Pope Francis is pushing to change that.
Pope Francis will participate in a joint worship service in Sweden as part of a series of events to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
NPR's Robert Siegel talks with the Nicole Winfield of the Associated Press about the pope's justification for use of contraception in regions affected by the Zika virus.
“Some say that the patriarch is very close to Putin,” says managing editor Kim Lawton, “and so who knows what kind of Russian geopolitics may also be affected by this meeting” of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis. More →
The pope took politicians and clergy to task, saying they were not making it their priority to ease the sufferings of the people. He also apologized for past abuse of indigenous people by the church.
We all have comfort foods — even Pope Francis and the men who guard him. The Vatican Cookbook is a tour of life and food in the world's smallest country, as told by members of the Swiss Guard.
The pope firmly ruled out abortion for pregnant women who fear effects of the Zika virus — but said that "in certain cases," contraception might be a lesser evil, without directly approving its use.