"The church is a mother, and she must travel this path of mercy," the pope said.

Civilian Catholic chaplains, unable to perform religious duties at U.S. military bases during the first weekend of the federal government shutdown, were getting back on the job as the shutdown continued into its second week."We're now being told priests can return to work," said John S

More refugee deaths on the sea near the southern Italian island of Lampedusa has brought international focus to an ongoing tragedy—an unknowable loss of life as thousands of refugees and migrants each year seek to escape to Europe from North Africa in sometimes overloaded or ramshackle watercr

Religious leaders gathered on Sept. 30 to denounce "political brinkmanship."

At Georgetown, four panelists analyzed the first months of Francis' papacy.

Recognizing that Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II have widespread reputations for holiness and that years of studying their lives and actions have proven their exceptional virtue, Pope Francis announced he would declare his two predecessors saints at a single ceremony April 27.The pope made the a