VATICAN CITY – When Pope Francis goes to Poland to meet with an expected two million young people from around the world, he's going with a firm idea of the dreams, fears and challenges so many of them face.

Next to the Pope, the Vatican’s most quoted person is probably the papal spokesman. In an often thankless job, the spokesman makes official announcements, corrects misinformation, fields reporters’ queries and, generally, is the public face of a Church that is frequently misunderstood.

ROME – Pope Francis sent a high-ranking cardinal to South Sudan to urge for a peaceful end to the escalating violence in the country.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis said he looks forward to his upcoming visit to Poland for World Youth Day and that his visit will be inspired by mercy during this Jubilee Year.

Pope Francis has telephoned leaders of the terror-stricken French city of Nice, asking him what he could do to help in the wake of last week’s gruesome truck attack and promising to meet with the families of the victims as soon as possible.

VATICAN CITY – Remembering the victims of the tragic terrorist attack in Nice, France, Pope Francis prayed that God may give comfort to grieving families and foil the plans of those who wish to harm others.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis condemned the attack on Bastille Day celebrations in France, calling it an act of "blind violence.”

VATICAN CITY – Members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America were holding their daily staff meeting when an unexpected visitor came to their door: Pope Francis.

The advent of a new, professional, lay-led press office at the Vatican won’t sideline Canada’s Fr. Thomas Rosica, who has acted as a volunteer English-language attaché to the Holy See press office since Pope Benedict resigned.

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican and Sunni Islam's leading institution of higher learning have begun looking for ways to restart formal dialogue.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has named Bishop Donald Bolen of Saskatoon, Sask., as the new archbishop of Regina.

Now that the memorial to St. Mary Magdalene is a feast day, all that remains is for Catholics to decide how they will feast.

VATICAN CITY – Three months after the publication of Pope Francis' exhortation on marriage and family, bishops and bishops' conferences around the world are studying practical ways to apply it. Some still disagree on what exactly the Pope meant.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has met the parents of an American teenager who died in suspicious circumstances just after he arrived to start a foreign study program.

VATICAN CITY – The world community needs to get serious about ending the conflict in Syria and call out those who claim to support peace while making money off of arms sales, Pope Francis said.