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FAITH/STORIES

Pope Francis kisses the foot of a female inmate at Rome's Rebibbia prison April 2.

Pope asks prisoners to pray that Christ make him a better servant

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VATICAN CITY - In a moving ceremony that recalled how Jesus loved the world so deeply that He lowered Himself to serve and died for everyone's sins, Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 prison inmates, plus a small toddler who lives with his incarcerated mother.

Pope Francis leaves after celebrating Holy Thursday chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 2.

Pope to priests: Exhaustion is part of ministry; find renewal in Christ

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VATICAN CITY - Priestly ministry is hard, sometimes lonely or dangerous work serving the neediest with an open, vulnerable heart, Pope Francis told the world's priests.

Cardinal Thomas Collins pours the chrism oil on the altar at St. Padre Pio Church in Kleinberg, Ont.

Oils consecrated at chrism Mass central to Church’s sacraments, rituals

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MIAMI - Some of the Church’s most ancient traditions and rituals are witnessed during Holy Week, including the preparation, blessing and distribution of oils central to the Catholic Church’s sacraments and rites.

Worshippers carry a statue of the risen Christ during an Easter procession in Escazu, Costa Rica, April 8, 2012.

Church directives seek to keep mafia out of Easter processions

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VATICAN CITY - The bishop of a southern Italian diocese has issued new directives aimed at keeping the mafia out of this year's Easter processions.

Pope Francis talks with Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi as they leave the concluding session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 18.

Pope names Cardinal Versaldi new prefect of education congregation

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis named 71-year-old Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture of the Economic Affairs of the Holy See since 2011, to be the new prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

A girl holds palms before the start of Palm Sunday Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 29.

Imitate Jesus’ humility and service, Pope says on Palm Sunday

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VATICAN CITY - From modern-day martyrs to those who quietly care for the sick or elderly, Pope Francis remembered all those who “sacrifice themselves daily,” following Jesus in serving others and giving witness to the Gospel.

Pope John Paul II greets the World Youth Day crowd in Czestochowa, Poland, in 1992. An estimated 1.5 million people from 80 countries attended the third international World Youth Day.

St. John Paul II, a pope who gave himself to the end

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I once found myself in a room full of photographers forced to make a passionate defence of the Pope. It was an odd sort of defence. I was defending the Pope’s right to look frail, weak, lost and vulnerable in public.

A homeless woman walks past a Swiss guard as she enters the Vatican March 26. While enjoying a private visit to the Sistine Chapel, homeless people were surprised by a visit from Pope Francis.

Pope joins homeless people for private tour of Sistine Chapel

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VATICAN CITY - While enjoying a private visit to the Sistine Chapel, a group of VIP guests -- homeless people who live around the Vatican -- were surprised by a visit from Pope Francis.

Pope Francis hands his speech to Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples, Italy, after deciding to speak off the cuff during a meeting with religious at the cathedral in Naples March 21.

No ifs, ands or buts: Christians must live Christ's way, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Don't be "halfway Christians," who accept Christ, but then start looking for excuses and stammering, "yes, but ..." when it is time to follow his way, Pope Francis said at a morning Mass.

Nuns greet Pope Francis during his meeting with religious at the cathedral in Naples, Italy, March 21.

Nuns mob Pope before blood of Naples' patron saint miraculously liquefies

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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 Francis greets the crowd after celebrating Mass in Piazza Plebiscito in Naples, Italy, March 21.

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 goes to confession during a Lenten penance service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 13. During the service the pope announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to be celebrated from Dec. 8, 2015, until Nov. 20, 2016.

In Holy Year, Pope wants to share experience of mercy he had as teen

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' decision to convoke a special Holy Year of Mercy has its roots in the event that led a teenage Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the priesthood.

A man joins in chanting for the repeal of the death penalty in Maryland in January 2013. Maryland's death penalty was abolished in the same year May 2, signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley.

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.

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