Benedict XVI seeks to distance himself from controversial book he supposedly co-authored, supporting ban on married priests as current pope reportedly plans to ease it

Francis had hoped to travel to Iraq this year to minister to faithful who have endured years of attacks and persecution by the Islamic State group

Francis invokes Jesus' birthplace, where 'so many people -- struggling but not discouraged -- still await a time of peace, security and prosperity'

Holy See doesn't directly mention Washington's announcement that it no longer views settlements as illegal, but reference seems clear from statement's wording

82-year-old pontiff reassures crowd that unprecedented 7-minute delay in Angelus prayer wasn't due to health reasons

Move marks unprecedented effort by Pope Francis to respond to global sex abuse and whitewashing scandals, applies to all 415,000 priests and 660,000 nuns of the church

Francis denounces 'cruel violence' of Easter Day attacks at churches and hotels; head of Egypt's al-Azhar Mosque says terrorists actions go against all religious teachings

Pilgrims get rare opportunity to crawl up Holy Stairs, which according to Christian tradition are stained with Christ's blood and were brought from Jerusalem by Roman Empire

Government and church officials in Israel bemoan fire threatening to destroy landmark cathedral, which has stood in Paris for 850 years