Shootings by police in Los Angeles County nearly doubled in the last year, from 23 to 45 cases, 19 of them fatal.

Pope and Patriarch in Cuba: an enormous step for Catholic-Russian Orthodox relations and for Christian Unity

He has been "assessor" or deputy-chief of staff in the Vatican since 2009

The thing is, this year it really is too early to start thinking about Lent.

China has far less to gain from establishing relations with the Vatican than vice-versa.

The papal commission for the Protection of Children has asked Peter Saunders, one of its two survivor members, to take a leave of absence.