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Faith

VATICAN CITY - After Pope Francis was mobbed by a group of cloistered nuns, and at the end of a spontaneity-filled meeting with priests, seminarians and religious in the cathedral of Naples, a vial of dried blood of the city's patron saint appeared to miraculously liquefy.

Pope preaches hope to Naples' unemployed, immigrants, prisoners

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VATICAN CITY - Hope is the first act of resistance to evil, Pope Francis told the people of Naples as he pleaded for respect for the dignity of immigrants, jobs for the unemployed and the conversion of the city's notorious mafia families.

Pope Francis calls death penalty 'unacceptable,' urges abolition

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis came out squarely against the death penalty once again, calling it "unacceptable" regardless of the seriousness of the crime of the condemned.

Pope accepts cardinal's decision to renounce duties, rights of office

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis accepted Scotland Cardinal Keith O'Brien's decision to renounce all "duties and privileges" associated with being a cardinal.

Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare French couple saints

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved a miracle so that, for the first time, a married couple can be canonized together.

Francis’ reforms run into strong headwinds

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VATICAN CITY - One reason the cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis two years ago was a brief but powerful speech the Argentine cardinal made shortly before the conclave in which he denounced the “theological narcissism” of the Roman Catholic Church.

Historic cemetery inside Vatican walls a 'little piece of paradise'

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VATICAN CITY - A small, inconspicuous cemetery inside the Vatican walls made headlines recently with the burial of a Belgian homeless man, Willy Herteleer.

At Lenten penance service, Pope announces Holy Year of Mercy

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight the Catholic Church's "mission to be a witness of mercy."

Anniversary interview: Pope talks about his election, papacy, future

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VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis went out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time, he said he did not prepare what he was going to say, but "I felt deeply that a minister needs the blessing of God, but also of his people."

Hearing confession is source of grace, conversion for priest, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Hearing a Catholic's confession should be awe-inspiring for a priest, an experience that makes him look at his own life and willingness to convert, Pope Francis told a group of seminarians, new priests and priests who hear confessions in the major basilicas of Rome.

Pope grants interview about his safety, politics, virtual relationships

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VATICAN CITY - A religious procession, a brainstorm session and a few glasses of wine led a group of residents gathered in a shantytown on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to come up with a plan to interview Pope Francis.