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Pope Francis leads a prayer service at a statue of Mary overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Pope Francis prays for Aleppo, victims of recent terrorist attacks

VATICAN CITY – During the Angelus for the third Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, Pope Francis made a special appeal for prayers for the people of Aleppo and Syria, and for all those affected by the recent terrorist attacks which have taken place in places such as Turkey and Egypt.

Many LGBT rights activists were disappointed that Pope Francis had approved the new priest guidelines published Dec. 7, which reaffirms the Church's ban on gay priests.

Outcry greets Vatican decision to reaffirm ban on gay priests

VATICAN CITY – A Vatican decision to reaffirm its opposition to gay priests has angered activists who thought Pope Francis was changing Rome’s attitudes toward homosexuality.

The Vatican has updated its guidelines for priests for the first time since 1985 titled 'The Gift of the Priestly Vocation,' which was released Dec. 7.

Vatican's new guidelines for priests talks clericalism, homosexuality, abuse prevention

VATICAN CITY – The updated version of the Vatican's document on priestly formation, released Wednesday, deals with issues of clericalism, homosexuality, and the protection of minors, among other things.

In a new interview, Pope Francis says his exhortation on the family, 'Amoris Laetitia,' was the result of thorough discussions with bishops around the world.

In new interview, Pope says 'Amoris Laetitia' is result of listening, discernment

VATICAN CITY – Everything in Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis' exhortation on the family, sprang from consultations with Catholics around the world and was thoroughly discussed by the bishops at the 2014 and 2015 synods on the family, Pope Francis said.

The discourse surrounding nuclear security must be based on ethic of trust, responsibility and cooperation, says Vatican official Msgr. Antoine Camilleri Dec. 6.

Vatican calls for trust, responsibility on nuclear technology

VIENNA, Austria – In order to realize the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons the discourse of the international community surrounding nuclear security must be based on an ethic of trust, responsibility, and cooperation – not fear and suspicion, Vatican official Msgr. Antoine Camilleri said Tuesday.

At the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, experts discussed the power and limitations of artificial intelligence.

Vatican weighs in on power, limits of artificial intelligence

VATICAN CITY – This week the Vatican hosted a high-level discussion in the world of science, gathering experts to discuss the progress, benefits and limits of advances in artificial intelligence.

Cuban President Raul Castro, right, smiles as he meets Pope Francis during a private audience at the Vatican on May 10, 2015.

Catholic Church could play larger role in a post-Fidel Castro Cuba

The relationship between Fidel Castro and the Cuban Catholic Church has been a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, though it has noticeably improved in recent years.

Orthodox patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople wrote in the Vatican newspaper 'L'Osservatore Romano' that Pope Francis' 'Amoris Laetitia' is about "mercy and compassion."

Patriarch Bartholomew says 'Amoris Laetitia' is about God's mercy

VATICAN CITY – Knowing the debate surrounding Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on the family, Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said the document "first and foremost recalls the mercy and compassion of God and not just moral norms and canonical rules."

Former child soldiers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Pope Francis has dedicated the month of December to praying for the end to child soldiers.

Pope dedicates December to praying for end to child soldiers

VATICAN CITY – In his latest prayer video, which highlights his prayer intention for the month of December, Pope Francis focused on putting an end to the phenomenon of child-soldiers, which he called a “form of slavery.”

Pope Francis leads his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19.

Pope's Advent advice: Don't be dominated by material things

VATICAN CITY – The season of Advent is a reminder to us to open our horizons and have concern for more than just material things, the Pope said Sunday during his Angelus address.

American Cardinal Raymond Burke, here shaking hands with Pope Francis, is one of four senior Churchmen demanding clarification on points of doctrine in Amoris Laetitia.

Cardinals called 'disloyal' after dubia request goes unanswered

There is little tradition of cardinals correcting popes on matters of Catholic Church teaching. But citing tradition, canon law and dogma, Cardinal Raymond Burke has reached back almost 700 years and threatened to initiate a “formal act of correction” if Pope Francis refuses to answer five questions launched by Burke and three other cardinals.

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