Pope Francis

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FILE - Pope Francis presides over a mass for the religious orders in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Pope Francis on Saturday reaffirmed Christians special relationship with Jews amid rising antisemitism since the outbreak of the Gaza war in a letter to the Jews of Israel that he said was prompted by messages from Jewish organizations around the world. In the letter that served as a belated fence-mending after Francis was criticized for his initial response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, Francis said the Holy Land has been “cast into a spiral of unprecedented violence." (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Pope reaffirms Christians’ special relationship with Jews amid rising antisemitism, Gaza war

Associated Press

Pope Francis delivers his blessing during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis slams AI-generated images, messages; says he was a deepfake photo victim

By Mark A. Kellner - The Washington Times

Pope Francis delivers the Angelus noon prayer from his studio's window overlooking St.Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope says he hopes to keep promise to visit native Argentina for first time since becoming pontiff

Associated Press

Pope Francis presides over the First Vespers and Te Deum, the rite of thanksgiving for the end of the year, in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis, same-sex couple blessings and an imploding Catholic traditional theology

By C.J. Doyle – Special to Higher Ground

Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Pope Francis on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, called for a universal ban on the “despicable” practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the “commercialization” of pregnancy in an annual speech listing the threats to global peace and human dignity. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Growing disapproval of Pope Francis found among Americans, U.S. Catholics: poll

By Mark A. Kellner - The Washington Times

Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Pope Francis on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, called for a universal ban on the “despicable” practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the “commercialization” of pregnancy in an annual speech listing the threats to global peace and human dignity. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Pope calls for global ban on surrogate motherhood, says practice exploits women, harms children

By Mark A. Kellner - The Washington Times

Pope Francis presides over an Epiphany mass in St.Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis warns against ideological splits in the Church, says focus on the poor, not ‘theory’

Associated Press

Secretary of former Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein holds a mass to mark a one year anniversary of the death of Pope Benedict, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Gaenswein has been the former private secretary to Pope Benedict XVI for many years until his death on Dec. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope recalls Benedict XVI’s love and wisdom on anniversary of death, as secretary reflects on legacy

By Luigi Navarra and Nicole Winfield - Associated Press

Pope Francis waves before delivering the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis blasts the weapons industry as he makes a Christmas appeal for peace in the world

Associated Press

Pope Francis blesses a family as he presides over Christmas eve Mass, at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday Dec. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope says ‘our hearts are in Bethlehem’ as he presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s

Associated Press

Pope Francis delivers his message as he meets with Vatican employees for the season greetings at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Some Catholic bishops reject Pope’s stance on blessings for same-sex couples. Others are confused

By Gerald Imray - Associated Press

Married and same-sex couples take part in a public blessing ceremony in front of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, on Sept. 20, 2023. Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document released Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Pope Francis approves blessings for same-sex couples, says ceremonies can’t resemble marriage

By Mark A. Kellner - The Washington Times

Pope Francis waves during the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St.Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if the rituals don’t resemble marriage

By Nicole Winfield - Associated Press

Pope Francis arrives for an audience with sick people and Lourdes pilgrimage operators in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis says he’s better and won’t resign, but planning to be buried outside Vatican’s walls

By Mark A. Kellner - The Washington Times

Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope says he’s ‘much better’ after a bout of bronchitis but still gets tired if he speaks too much

By Nicole Winfield - Associated Press

Nuns look at Pope Francis on a giant monitor set up in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, as he blesses the faithful gathered in the square for the traditional Angelus noon prayer. Francis skipped his weekly Sunday appearance at a window because suffering from a mild flu. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis says he’s doing better but again skips his window appearance facing St. Peter’s Square

By Frances D'Emilio - Associated Press

Pope says he has acute bronchitis, doctors recommended against travel to avoid change in temperature

Associated Press

Pope Francis attends the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

An ailing Pope Francis appears at a weekly audience but says he’s not well and has aide read speech

By Frances D'Emilio - Associated Press

FILE - Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Pope Francis cancelled his trip to Dubai for the U.N. climate conference on doctors’ orders. The announcement marked the second time the pope’s frail health had forced the cancellation of a foreign trip: He had to postpone a planned trip to Congo and South Sudan in 2022 because of knee inflammation, though he was able to make the trip earlier this year. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Pope cancels trip to Dubai for U.N. climate conference on doctors’ orders after getting the flu

By Nicole Winfield - Associated Press

A giant screen broadcasts Pope Francis coughing during the Angelus noon prayer, from the chapel of the hotel at the Vatican grounds where he lives, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. Pope Francis says he has a lung inflammation but will go later this week to Dubai for the climate change conference. Francis skipped his weekly Sunday appearance at a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, a day after the Vatican said he was suffering from a mild flu. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis getting antibiotics intravenously for lung problem, limiting appointments, Vatican says

Associated Press