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Pope Francis begins Palm Sunday Mass at the obelisk in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 24.

Vatican confirms pope to lead full slate of Holy Week, Easter liturgies

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican confirmed Pope Francis will lead a full slate of Holy Week and Easter liturgies in Rome and at the Vatican, keeping pace with a usually busy papal schedule.

A statue of St. Francis of Assisi overlooks the grounds of St. Gabriel’s Spiritual Centre for Youth in Shelter Island, N.Y. Pope Francis explained that he took the name Francis to show solidarity with the poor, much like St. Francis himself.

What’s in a name? The Pope explains

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said that “as things got dangerous” in the conclave voting, he was sitting next to his “great friend,” Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes “who comforted me.”

"The Catholic Church knows the importance of promoting friendship and respect among men and women of different religious traditions," Pope Francis said.

Pope says religions must cooperate to remind humanity God exists

VATICAN CITY - For the good of all people, the care of the poor and the future of the Earth, religions must cooperate in reminding modern men and women that God exists and has a plan for their lives and their behavior, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis receives his ring from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, during his inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 19.

Pope begins ministry with biblical symbols, signs of universal ministry

VATICAN CITY - Although attempts were made to simplify the ceremony, Pope Francis officially inaugurated his ministry as Pope and bishop of Rome in a liturgy filled with biblical symbolism and signs of the universality of his mission.

Pope Francis greets the crowd in St. Peter's Square before celebrating his inaugural Mass at the Vatican March 19.

As Joseph protected Mary, so Pope Francis pledges to protect Church, human dignity

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis formally began his ministry as bishop of Rome and as Pope by pledging to protect the Catholic Church, the dignity of each person and the beauty of creation, just like St. Joseph protected Mary and Jesus.

Pope Francis speaks with Father Gonzalo Aemilius, founder of the Liceo Jubilar Juan Pablo II, a high school in Montevideo, Uruguay, at St. Anne's Parish within the Vatican March 17. Pope Francis recognized the priest in the crowd when he went outside to greet them and invited him to participate in the Sunday Mass.

At first Angelus, Pope Francis says God never tires of forgiving

VATICAN CITY - Citing a distinguished German theologian and an anonymous elderly penitent from Argentina, Pope Francis told an overflow crowd in St. Peter's Square never to despair of God's mercy to sinners.

Pope Francis' episcopal motto is based on the Gospel account of "The Call of St. Matthew," the tax collector

Pope's episcopal motto comes from homily by English doctor of church

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' episcopal motto is based on the Gospel account of "The Call of St. Matthew," the tax collector, in a homily given by St. Bede the Venerable.

Cardinal Paul-Emile Leger

Ouellet is third Canadian to merit papal consideration

Associate Editor Michael Swan is in Rome to report on the conclave. Selecting a pope is a world event, but that doesn’t mean it lacks a Canadian perspective. Here Swan looks at Canada and the conclave.

Cardinals John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, Francis E. George of Chicago, and Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, India, arrive for a prayer service with eucharistic adoration in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 6. More than 100 cardinals gat hered in front of Bernini's statue, "The Chair of St. Peter," for the evening service.

Church should always reform and improve

VATICAN CITY - If Jesus had wanted a Church free of scandal or problems, he would have put it in the hands of angels, not a humanity he loved, said Nigeria's newest cardinal elector.

Pope Benedict XVI addresses the College of Cardinals at the Vatican Feb. 28, the final day of his papacy. In attendance were 144 cardinals, including many of the 115 younger than 80 who are eligible and expected to vote in the upcoming conclave.

Pope Benedict pledges obedience to next pope 

VATICAN CITY - The Clementine Hall is traditionally where cardinals gather to bid farewell to popes at the end of a pontificate, but usually it happens when the pope is lying in state before his funeral.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, top, is thought to be a leading candidate to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.

Could a Canadian be the next pope?

Cardinal Ouellet high on many lists to succeed Benedict XVI

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