Religion

Pope Benedict XVI waves during the farewell ceremony at Cologne airport, Germany.

Benedict XVI, First Pope To Resign In 600 Years, Dies At 95

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the former Joseph Ratzinger, died Saturday at his home in the Vatican.

 | AP

Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican Says Benedict XVI Lucid, Stable, But Condition 'Serious'

Pope Francis revealed Wednesday that the 95-year-old retired pontiff was "very ill," sparking fears that Benedict was near death.

 | AP

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Vatican Says Health Of Retired Pope Benedict XVI 'Worsening'

Pope Francis has asked the faithful to pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as he is "constantly monitored" by doctors.

 | AP

Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi competes during the IFSC Climbing Asian Championships

Worry Grows For Iranian Athlete Who Competed Without Her Hijab

The decision by Elnaz Rekabi to forgo the headscarf came as protests continue over the death of Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by morality police.

 | AP

Pope Francis.

Ukrainians Want Russians Removed From Pope's Good Friday Procession

The pope has previously made it very clear he is against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

 | Scripps News Staff

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis Calls For An Easter Truce In Ukraine

Francis did not refer directly to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but the reference was clear.

 | AP and Scripps News Staff

Pope Francis

Pope Francis Says COVID Vaccines, Health Care Is A 'Moral Obligation'

He repeated his call for universal access to the shots, particularly in the parts of the world with low vaccination rates.

 | AP

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Pope Francis

President Biden's Vatican Meeting With Pope Francis Runs Into Overtime

President Biden was in Rome Friday morning to meet with Pope Francis.

 | AP

Pope Francis

Pope: No Place For Politics In President Biden Communion Flap

Pope Francis said he had never denied Communion to anyone, though he said he never knowingly had a pro-abortion politician before him, either.

 | AP

In this May 16, 2006 file photo former Washington Archbishop, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick pauses during a press conference

Ex-Cardinal McCarrick Charged With Sexually Assaulting Teen

McCarrick, 91, was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after a Vatican investigation confirmed decades of rumors that he was a sexual predator.

 | AP

The sky above St. Peter's Square at the Vatican,

Cardinal, 9 Others On Trial At Vatican In Money Scandals

Defendants are alleged to have had various roles in actions that effectively cost the Holy See tens of millions of dollars in donated funds.

 | AP

Pope Francis celebrates a Chrism Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica

Pope Reverses Benedict, Reimposes Restrictions On Latin Mass

Pope Francis reimposed restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass that Benedict relaxed in 2007.

 | AP

Pope Francis waves to the crowd

Pope, Recovering Well, Had 'Severe' Narrowing Of His Colon

Pope Francis’ recovery from intestinal surgery continues to be “regular and satisfactory.”

 | AP

Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives to recite the Angelus noon prayer

Pope Francis Recovering from Successful Surgery

He underwent the operation to remove part of his colon after suffering from G.I. issues.

 | AP

People enter church

Religious Leaders Embrace New Ways Of Reaching People

Church membership continues to decline in the U.S.

 | Scripps

Hubble Space Telescope image

How Would World Religions Respond To Extraterrestrial Life?

Theologians, philosophers and scientists have been having the faith vs. aliens conversation for centuries.

 | Amber Strong

German Cardinal Reinhard Marx attends a press conference by Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi

Pope Francis Rejects German Cardinal's Resignation

The pope said what was necessary instead was a process of reform.

 | AP

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising

Top German Cardinal Offers Resignation Over Child Abuse

Cardinal Reinhard Marx published his resignation letter to the pope online.

 | AP

Vatican changes church law to criminalize sex abuse of adults by priests

Vatican Criminalizes Sex Abuse of Adults By Priests

The revision of the Vatican's criminal law affects who is considered a predator and who can fall victim to abuse.

 | Lauren Magarino

Pope Francis

Vatican Criminalizes Sexual Abuse Of Adults By Priests, Laity

Previously, bishops had more discretion, which some critics say let them ignore or cover up abuse.

 | Kamil Zawadzki

A person waves an Israeli flag.

Spike In Antisemitic Attacks Around The World

Synagogues in Germany, Spain and the U.K. have been vandalized.

 | Simon Kaufman

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba marking the holy month of Ramadan.

Muslims Open Ramadan With COVID Protocols

Mosques implement social distancing measures and capacity limits limits.

 | Robin Dich

Pope Francis incenses the altar

LGBTQ Catholics Say Vatican Move Is 'Crushing'

The statement from the Vatican said the church still welcomes and blesses gay people, but would not bless their unions.

 | Scripps News Staff

Pope Francis

Vatican Says Catholic Churches Cannot Bless Gay Marriages

Last year Pope Francis made history as the first pope to endorse same-sex unions, calling those couples children of God.

 | Scripps News Staff

Pope Francis waves to faithful as he arrives for an open air Mass at a stadium in Irbil, Iraq.

Pope Francis Ends Epic Tour Of Iraq

The pontiff met with Christian and Muslim leaders and visited four cities during his three-day trip.

 | Adam Elrashidi

Pope Francis Ends Iraq Tour, Urging Christians To Forgive And Rebuild

The pope rounded out his four-day, six-city tour by holding a mass that some 8,000 people attended.

 | Alex Arger

Pope Francis leaves Mar Youssef Church in Baghdad on Saturday.

Pope Francis Meets With Top Iraqi Shiite Leader In Show Of Solidarity

Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani stressed unity and peace after their private meeting.

 | Alex Arger

Pope Francis in Baghdad

Pope Francis Starts Historic Iraq Trip To Boost Fading Christians

It's the pope's first trip abroad in 15 months — and it's taking place while Iraq faces a virus resurgence and continued rocket attacks.

 | Ben Schamisso

Pope Francis is welcomed by Iraqi President Barham Salih.

Pope Francis Visiting Iraq

Christians once made up a sizable minority in Iraq.

 | Scripps News Staff

Pope Francis sprinkles a clergyman with ashes

Vatican's Ash Wednesday Mass Scaled Back Amid Coronavirus

Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent for Christians, is usually among the most popular Masses.

 | Scripps News Staff