pope

Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., is among 13 church leaders who will be elevated to cardinal at a ceremony at the Vatican next month.

The pope is touring three countries in sub-Saharan Africa, calling for hope and reconciliation. Researchers look at the long-term impact of a papal visit.

One survivor said a priest forced her to have abortions after raping her. The pope said he has come up with 21 "reflection points" designed to address the crisis.

In his new book, soon to be a feature film, Andrew McCarten examines Popes Francis and Benedict XVI — and how having two living popes, for the first time in 600 years, has weakened the papacy.

Politically conservative Catholics criticize Francis for being pro-migrant, anti-capitalist and less rigid in doctrine than predecessors. The cleric sex abuse scandals have emboldened these critics.

Pope Francis said the failure to address abuse remains "a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community." His visit comes at a time when the church's influence is greatly diminished.

The pontiff is marking Good Friday with a traditional services, but on Holy Thursday, he broke with tradition by washing the feet of migrants of many faiths.

The pontiff has signed up for the photo-based social media site under the username "Franciscus."

The pope firmly ruled out abortion for pregnant women who fear effects of the Zika virus — but said that "in certain cases," contraception might be a lesser evil, without directly approving its use.

Pope Francis' social media feeds have blossomed while he's been pontiff, allowing followers to access his messages via Twitter, YouTube and also an app on their smartphones.

Pope Francis' upcoming visit to the U.S. has American Catholics excited — but they aren't the only ones. The pope's statements on the environment and social issues have appealed to non-Catholics, too.

From Jesus on a fish stick to the Virgin Mary on a grilled cheese, lots of people report seeing the faces of religious figures in their food. It turns out, our brains may be wired to work this way.