Helping the poor is not a papal fad, but a duty, pope says

VATICAN CITY — As the rich get richer, the increasing misery and cries of the poor are ignored every day, Pope Francis said.
Pope makes surprise visit to mobile clinic in St. Peter's Square

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis made a surprise visit to a mobile health care facility set up in St. Peter's Square to serve the city's homeless and poor.
Pope meets Israeli president at the Vatican

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis welcomed Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to the Vatican Nov. 15 for a private discussion that included the importance of building greater trust between Israelis and Palestinians.
Milan court rules against former nuncio in inheritance lawsuit

ROME — A civil court in Milan ordered Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a longtime diplomat and former Vatican nuncio to the United States, to return close to 2 million euro plus interest and legal fees to his brother Father Lorenzo Vigano.
Modern martyrs show unity in Christ, pope and catholicos say

VATICAN CITY — Appealing to the international community to help bring peace to Syria and Iraq, Pope Francis and Catholicos Gewargis III, patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, also paid homage to the lands' persecuted Christians, who demonstrate that faith in Christ is a bond that is stronger than any denominational difference.
Anti-Semitism must be banned from society, pope says

VATICAN CITY — Sharing the same roots as their Jewish brothers and sisters, Christians cannot be anti-Semitic and must work to ensure anti-Semitism is banned from society, Pope Francis said.
'Sand Nativity' scene to display in St. Peter's Square

Although sand castles and sculptures usually conjure up images of hot summers on the beach, the Vatican will unveil a massive Nativity scene made entirely of sand during the cold Roman winter.
New coordinating body for Catholic charismatic activities announced

VATICAN CITY — The two international bodies that had been supporting and coordinating the international activities of charismatic Catholics will become one new organization.
Pope apologizes to young people who have felt ignored by the church

VATICAN CITY — Speaking on behalf of all adult Catholics, Pope Francis formally closed the Synod of Bishops by asking young people for forgiveness.
Pope calls for new alliance between young, old to change the world

VATICAN CITY — With the launch of a new book, Pope Francis is calling for a new alliance -- between young and old -- to change the world.
Saints risk all for love of Jesus, pope says at canonization Mass

VATICAN CITY — Carrying Pope Paul VI's pastoral staff and wearing the blood-stained belt of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, Pope Francis formally recognized them, and five others, as saints of the Catholic Church.
Honesty, gratitude to God are basis of credibility, cardinal tells synod

VATICAN CITY — Unless they recognize themselves as sinners rescued by Jesus, adults cannot be effective in helping young people find the path to faith and doing God's will, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago told the Synod of Bishops.
New saints shared a close friendship, professor says

ROME — Blesseds Paul VI and Oscar Romero crossed paths on their road to sainthood and formed a personal friendship that strengthened each other's resolve in the face of growing challenges, an Italian professor said.
Christians must live the beatitudes, not just preach them, pope says

VATICAN CITY — With songs, poetry and dance -- including hip-hop -- young people shared with Pope Francis and members of the Synod of Bishops some of their life stories, hopes, dreams and, especially, questions.
Vatican reviewing McCarrick case, vows to pursue truth no matter what

VATICAN CITY — Promising a thorough review of how the Vatican handled allegations of sexual misconduct by former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, the Vatican acknowledged that what happened may fall short of the procedures that are in place today.
At synod, Sydney archbishop apologizes to young people for church failures

VATICAN CITY — Australian Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney used his speech at the Synod of Bishops to formally apologize to young people for all the ways the Catholic Church and its members have harmed them or let them down.
Pope's favorability numbers down, and worse for handling of abuse

WASHINGTON — With Pope Francis midway into the sixth year of his pontificate, the percentage of U.S. Catholics who view him favorably, while still strong, is noticeably down.
Pope: Pray to protect church from devil, step up fight against abuse

VATICAN CITY — Signaling his belief that the Catholic Church is facing a serious crisis, Pope Francis asked every Catholic in the world to pray for the protection of the church from attacks by the devil, but also that the church would be more aware of its sins and stronger in its efforts to combat abuse.
Former nuncio claims Vatican official has evidence of cover-up

VATICAN CITY — Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former nuncio to the United States who accused Pope Francis and church officials of failing to act on accusations of sexual abuse, urged a top Vatican official to release documents that would prove his allegations.
WATCH: Scandals create outrage, but there is time for conversion, pope says

TALLINN, Estonia — In what is probably the least religious country in Europe, Pope Francis said he is surprised by how many people hold firm to their faith despite all the sexual abuse and financial scandals in the Catholic Church.
WATCH: Be grateful to parents, never insult them, pope says

VATICAN CITY — Honoring mothers and fathers means being grateful for the gift of life and Christians should never insult anyone's parents, Pope Francis said.
Faith in Christ isn't professed in words but in deeds, pope says

VATICAN CITY — True followers of Jesus profess their faith not through pre-packaged platitudes but rather through concrete actions of love for their neighbors, Pope Francis said.
Pope, in Sicily, honors priest martyred by Mafia

PALERMO, Sicily — Honoring a priest shot at point-blank range by the Mafia, Pope Francis insisted that true happiness and a real change in Sicilian society will come only when people love and care for one another rather than trying to grab as much money and power as they can.
WATCH: U.S. bishops tell pope abuse scandal 'lacerated' the church

VATICAN CITY — The leaders of the U.S. bishops' conference said they shared with Pope Francis how the church in the United States has been "lacerated by the evil of sexual abuse."
Pope to convene world meeting on abuse prevention with bishops' leaders

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is calling the presidents of every Catholic bishops' conference in the world to Rome Feb. 21-24 to discuss the prevention of the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.
Build church unity, shun clericalism, pope tells new bishops

VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church needs bishops who promote unity, "not soloists singing their own tune or captains fighting personal battles," Pope Francis told new bishops from the church's mission territories.
Prelates in Austria, Germany offer support to Pope Francis

Prelates in Germany and Austria have united to support Pope Francis in response to a former papal nuncio's demand for his resignation.
Letter confirms Vatican officials knew of McCarrick allegations in 2000

VATICAN CITY — A top official from the Vatican Secretariat of State acknowledged allegations made by a New York priest in 2000 concerning Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, according to a letter obtained by Catholic News Service.
Silence is Christ's response to lies, divisiveness, pope says at Mass

VATICAN CITY — Jesus himself showed that the best way to respond to scandal and divisiveness is to stay silent and pray, Pope Francis said Sept. 3 as he resumed his early morning Masses with invited guests.
Pope: Pray, act to protect clean water, guarantee access to it

VATICAN CITY — Water is a gift of God that makes life possible and yet millions of people do not have access to safe drinking water, and rivers, seas and oceans continue to be polluted, Pope Francis said.
Is there truth in Archbishop Vigano's text and how are Catholics to know?

VATICAN CITY — Catholics in the pews and even priests in the Vatican are confused about the long document Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano published claiming Pope Francis turned a blind eye to information he had about the sexual misconduct of now-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick.
WATCH: Pope says he trusts people to judge archbishop's claims about him

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM DUBLIN — Pope Francis said Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano's long document calling on him to resign is written in a way that people should be able to draw their own conclusions.
WATCH: Pope begins Mass in Dublin with penitential plea for abuse scandals

DUBLIN — Before celebrating Mass in a Dublin park, Pope Francis solemnly asked forgiveness for the thousands of cases of sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by Catholics in Ireland.
Families called to share joy, love, life with the world, pope says

DUBLIN — In a stadium of Catholic families from around the world, Pope Francis told the laypeople they are the vast majority of church members and that, without them, the church would be cold, a collection of statues.
Former U.S. nuncio alleges broad cover-up of McCarrick's misdeeds

VATICAN CITY — A former apostolic nuncio to the United States accused church officials, including Pope Francis, of failing to act on accusations of abuse of conscience and power by now-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick.