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Taiwan president appeals to Pope Francis over China’s 'abuse of power'

VATICAN CITY — Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen has written to Pope Francis describing China’s aggression and persecution of religion as “obstacles to peace,” and detailing the communist regime’s “abuses of power.”
Integral development for all is a moral duty, pope tells leaders at Davos

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis told global business and government leaders that everyone has the moral responsibility to seek the integral development of all people, but especially those who are in need, suffering injustice or whose lives are threatened.
Pope Francis denounces ‘barbaric resurgence’ of anti-Semitism

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis Monday condemned the “barbaric resurgence” of cases of anti-Semitism in the world, and urged the need to respect each person’s human dignity.
Pope Francis: To know Christ better, contemplate his 'holy face'

VATICAN CITY — Meditating on the Gospel and on Christ’s holy face is a good way to know Jesus better, especially as the Lamb of God who sacrificed himself for the sins of the world, Pope Francis said Sunday.
Vatican picks Hong Kong bishop, delays announcement

HONG KONG — The Holy See has delayed announcing its pick for the next bishop of Hong Kong amid concerns that local clergy and lay Catholics will see Father Peter Choy Wai-man as too sympathetic to the Chinese Communist government.
Open source: Vatican wartime archives ready for new batch of scholars

VATICAN CITY — After decades of anticipation, the Vatican archives are ready to welcome, starting March 2, scores of scholars wishing to study documents related to the wartime pontificate of Pope Pius XII.
Ignatius Press to keep Benedict XVI listed as coauthor of new celibacy book

VATICAN CITY — Amid still-unfolding controversy surrounding a new book on priestly celibacy, the book’s US publisher says it plans to continue identifying pope emeritus Benedict XVI as coauthor of the text. The former pope’s private secretary requested Tuesday that Benedict not be listed as a coauthor.
Retired pope wants his name removed as co-author of book on celibacy

VATICAN CITY — At the request of retired Pope Benedict XVI, his name will be removed as co-author of a book defending priestly celibacy, said Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Vatican official who coordinated work on the book.
Vatican: Pope Francis not in favor of optional priestly celibacy

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican spokesman said Monday that Pope Francis’ position on priestly celibacy is “known,” quoting the pontiff’s remarks in a January 2019 press conference, in which he said he does not agree with making priestly celibacy “optional” in the Latin rite.
Retired pope, Vatican cardinal write book defending priestly celibacy

VATICAN CITY — Since marriage and priesthood both demand the total devotion and self-giving of a man to his vocation, "it does not seem possible to realize both vocations simultaneously," retired Pope Benedict XVI said in a new book.
Pope sets special day to honor, study, share the Bible

VATICAN CITY — The newly established "Sunday of the Word of God" is an invitation to Catholics across the world to deepen their appreciation, love and faithful witness to God and his word, Pope Francis said.
Pope prays for dialogue as tensions mount between U.S., Iran

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis led pilgrims in prayers for peace as tensions between the United States and Iran escalated following the assassination of a top Iranian general.
Pope Francis: The Gospel is a call to holiness in concrete actions

VATICAN CITY — The Gospel is more than a nice story – it is the concrete revelation of God’s plan for the world and calls people to holiness, Pope Francis said Sunday.
Solidarity, subsidiarity needed to provide medical care to all, pope says

VATICAN CITY — The principles of solidarity and subsidiarity should be used together to ensure everyone, including the person experiencing poverty, has access to suitable healthcare, Pope Francis said Jan. 3.
Ecological sin: Idea of updating catechism sparks debate

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis' announcement that the Catechism of the Catholic Church would be updated to include a definition of "ecological sin" sent Catholic Twitter into a frenzy.
Pope Francis: Honor the dignity of women for a better world in 2020

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis began the new year with a call for the dignity of women to be honored — not exploited for profit and pornography — in 2020.
WATCH: Pope begins New Year with apology, prayers for peace

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis began the New Year with an apology for losing his patience the night before with a woman who grabbed his hand and yanked him closer to her while he was greeting people in St. Peter's Square.
Pope asks families to put down their phones on Holy Family feast

VATICAN CITY — On the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth Dec. 29, Pope Francis encouraged families to get off their cell phones and talk to one another.
The pope's 2019

VATICAN CITY — For Pope Francis, 2019 included his sixth anniversary as pope, his 83rd birthday and his 50th anniversary as a priest, but it also was a year that saw him still confronted with the clerical sexual abuse crisis and with Vatican financial scandals.
St. Stephen's martyrdom shows 'true meaning of Christmas,' Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY — The death of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, teaches Catholics to renew their commitment to charity and self-gift, part of the meaning of Christmas, Pope Francis said Thursday.
Pope, at Angelus, prays for Philippine victims of typhoon

VATICAN CITY — Reciting the Angelus with thousands of people in St. Peter's Square the day after Christmas, Pope Francis asked them to join him in reciting the "Hail Mary" for the victims of Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines.
WATCH: Pope: Christ's light greater than darkness of conflicts

VATICAN CITY — On Christmas, Pope Francis prayed for Christ to bring light to the instability in Iraq, Lebanon, Venezuela, Yemen, Ukraine, Burkina Faso, and other parts of the world experiencing conflict.
Pope: 'St. Joseph entrusted himself'

VATICAN CITY — When a group of children sang a belated "Happy Birthday" to Pope Francis and gave him a big cake, he needed to think twice before not eating some of it before lunch.
Pope: Imitate St. Joseph's trust in God

VATICAN CITY — In a difficult situation, St. Joseph put his whole trust in God and was obedient, an example for all Catholics to imitate, Pope Francis said during the Angelus Sunday.
Pope: 'Christendom no longer exists'

VATICAN CITY — The ongoing reform of the Roman Curia is a necessary part of the Catholic Church's fidelity to its mission to proclaim the Gospel, recognizing that very few countries today can be described as "Christian" and that new ways of evangelizing are necessary, Pope Francis said.
Pope to diplomats: Set aside indifference, fear

VATICAN CITY — Peace requires setting aside indifference and fear so that a feeling of mutual respect may grow and flourish, Pope Francis told diplomats.
Pope Francis: Nativity scenes show a 'domestic Gospel'

VATICAN — Pope Francis Wednesday called Christmas nativity scenes a “domestic Gospel,” which helps to make the Holy Family present in one’s home.
Pope Francis lifts pontifical secret from legal proceedings of abuse trials of clerics

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis declared Tuesday that the pontifical secret will no longer apply in cases of accusations and trials involving abuse of minors or vulnerable persons, and in cases of possession of child pornography by clerics.
When it comes to pope, social media comments don't always reflect reality

WASHINGTON — Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has welcomed dialogue that has led to often candid assessments from clergy and papal advisers about the path he is charting for the Catholic Church.
Pope tells his elderly peers the prayers of the old are powerful

VATICAN CITY — On the eve of his 83rd birthday, Pope Francis met with a group of his peers — although many were a few years younger— and told them that "old age is a time of grace."
Pope Francis celebrates a Filipino Christmas tradition at the Vatican

VATICAN CITY — On Gaudete Sunday, Pope Francis celebrated a Filipino Christmas tradition in St. Peter’s Basilica — the Simbang Gabi Christmas novena.
Call me ‘Father’: Pope’s priestly vocation is his favorite gift

VATICAN CITY — In Caravaggio’s painting of Matthew, the sinful tax collector being called by Jesus to “Follow me,” Pope Francis sees the same unexpected, grace-filled moment found in his own call to the priesthood.