Pope says it's 'grave sin' to deny God has blessed other Christians

ROME — Just as divisions in society grow when wealth is not shared, divisions within Christianity grow when the richness of gifts God has given to one Christian church or community are not recognized and shared, Pope Francis said.
Vatican releases guidelines to help church fight human trafficking

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has created a set of pastoral guidelines to inspire and improve the church's work in addressing the crime of human trafficking and the care of its victims worldwide.
Pope wants abuse summit to lead to clarity, action

VATICAN CITY — At the upcoming meeting on protecting minors, Pope Francis wants leaders of the world's bishops' conferences to clearly understand what must be done to prevent abuse, care for victims and ensure no case is whitewashed or covered up.
Faith is passed on at home, pope tells parents at baptism

VATICAN CITY — Faith isn't something learned just by studying the catechism but rather is a gift passed on to children by the example of their parents, Pope Francis said.
Seek Jesus, adore him, serve him and others, pope says on Epiphany

VATICAN CITY — People find Jesus only through humble love, and once they find him, they are called to offer him the gifts of their prayer, their adoration and their care of others, Pope Francis said.
Vatican confirms investigation is underway of bishop for abuse, misconduct

VATICAN CITY — A bishop from Argentina who had been working in the Vatican's real estate administration office is the object of a preliminary diocesan investigation after accusations came to light of sexual abuse, abuse of power and mismanagement in his former Diocese of Oran.
Pope to U.S. bishops: Abuse crisis requires conversion, humility

VATICAN CITY — The clerical abuse crisis and the "crisis of credibility" it created for the U.S. bishops have led to serious divisions within the U.S. church and to a temptation to look for administrative solutions to problems that go much deeper, Pope Francis told the U.S. bishops.
Pope prays for new year marked by tenderness, brotherhood, peace

VATICAN CITY — A new year is a chance for a new start, a time to remember that all people are brothers and sisters and a time to nurture amazement that God became human to save all people, Pope Francis said.
Top officials of Vatican press office resign

VATICAN CITY — Saying they thought Pope Francis should be "completely free to assemble a new team" for Vatican communications "at this time of transition," the director of the Vatican press office announced he and the vice director had resigned.
Vatican opens medical clinic for the homeless

VATICAN CITY — Just before Christmas the Vatican announced it had opened a new medical clinic for the homeless and the poor, expanding services previously offered in a small space just outside St. Peter's Square.
In Christmas message, pope prays for peace, brotherhood

VATICAN CITY — Delivering his formal Christmas message and blessing, Pope Francis prayed for a world where all people would recognize that they are brothers and sisters and would work for justice and for peace.
Pope: Come to the manger with love, charity, simplicity

VATICAN CITY — Jesus' birth in a stable, God's coming to earth in extreme simplicity, teaches Christians that love is more valuable than anything else and is what will change the world, Pope Francis said.
Church will spare no effort to end abuse, pope tells Curia

VATICAN CITY — Acknowledging the gravity of the clerical sexual abuse crisis, Pope Francis told members of the Roman Curia that the church's strength does not depend on its members' perfection, but on the willingness to recognize its failings and correct them.
Scapegoating migrants in political speeches is unacceptable, pope says

VATICAN CITY— In today's climate of mistrust, rejection and nationalism, the world urgently needs peacemakers and politicians who protect and lovingly serve others, Pope Francis said in his annual message for the World Day of Peace Jan. 1.
True Christmas celebrates Jesus, who is tender, humble, pope says

VATICAN CITY — With Christmas just over a week away, visitors came to St. Peter's Square with their Baby Jesus figurines for a traditional blessing by the pope.
Itinerant papal preacher: Capuchin will lead U.S. bishops' retreat

VATICAN CITY — For more than 38 years, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa has preached to the pope and top officials of the Roman Curia. In early January, he will lead the weeklong retreat of the U.S. bishops.
Vatican official: With migration, cooperation is better than isolationism

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican praised the adoption by more than 160 nations of a key agreement on global migration, saying today's migration challenges are better tackled together than with "isolationist" stances.
Marking feast day, pope asks Mary's care of families seeking refuge

ROME — In the heart of Rome, near streets of fancy shops already blinged out for Christmas shopping, Pope Francis prayed for Romans struggling to survive and for families in the city and around the world who face the same lack of welcome that Mary and Joseph experienced.
WATCH: Christmas spirit in the air as Vatican unveils Nativity scene, tree

VATICAN CITY — The annual unveiling of the Vatican's Christmas tree and Nativity scene brought some much-needed warmth to people's hearts as winter approached.
Difficult 2018: For pope, it was year to come to terms with abuse crisis

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis marked the fifth anniversary of his election in March in the midst of a firestorm over his handling of clerical sexual abuse and bishops' accountability in Chile.
Cardinal: Climate needs present 'challenge of civilization'

The Vatican challenged countries gathered for the 24th U.N. Climate Change Conference to focus on the needs of the present and the future as it worked to take swift action.
Cardinal: No one has right to demand a pope's resignation

VATICAN CITY — People can disagree about problems and the best ways to resolve them, but no one should launch a formal accusation against a pope much less ask for his resignation, German Cardinal Gerhard Muller said.
WATCH: Helping others can change the world, pope tells young people

VATICAN CITY — In a video message to young men and women around the world, Pope Francis called on them to provoke an uprising of change by serving others.
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.