Pope and Congress: Francis is certain to challenge lawmakers
By ANDREW TAYLOR A political pope is sure to seize his opportunity when he addresses a political body. So both Democrats and Republicans are looking forward to Pope Francis’ remarks…
Christianity
Severe crackdown in China on church crosses draws backlash
By DIDI TANG About a dozen Catholics wept and sang hymns outside their church as a man climbed to the top of the building and sliced off its steel cross…
Argentine mayor: Pope Francis is game-changer for climate
The latest developments at the Vatican’s meeting of mayors on fighting climate change and human trafficking. All times local. ___ 4:25 p.m. Monica Fein came all the way from Pope…
Pope challenges world to clean up its filth
NICOLE WINFIELD, RACHEL ZOLL ,SETH BORENSTEIN With a poet’s lyricism, a former chemist’s precision and a pontiff’s moral thunder, Pope Francis recast humanity’s relationship with nature in stark ethical terms,…
Pope’s stance leaks; calls for urgent action on environment
By NICOLE WINFIELD A draft copy of Pope Francis’ eagerly awaited encyclical on the environment calls for urgent action to protect the Earth and fight global warming, which the pope…
US archbishop quits after archdiocese charged with cover-up
By NICOLE WINFIELD Pope Francis has started making good on his promise to not let even the most senior churchmen get away with sex abuse or cover-up. On Monday, he…
Putin visits Italy, pope as US seeks more Vatican criticism
By TRISHA THOMAS and NICOLE WINFIELD Vladimir Putin won lavish praise from Italian Premier Matteo Renzi Wednesday as a crucial player in international anti-terrorism efforts, as Renzi sought the Russian…
Irish gays wake up to whole new world: When’s the wedding?
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK Ireland’s gay citizens woke up Sunday in what felt like a nation reborn — some with dreams of wedding plans dancing in their heads. Many weren’t rising…