Among those watching how Francis would act was Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, who tweeted: "She kissed his ring!"

As the capital of Italy and center of Catholicism, the city of Rome must work with the Catholic Church to preserve and defend its rich historical and spiritual traditions, Pope Francis said.

During his May 31-June 2 visit to Romania, Pope Francis will beatify seven bishop-martyrs who died as a result of an anti-religious campaign during Romania's Communist regime. During that trip, the pope will also meet with Romania's Roma community.

Indigenous women of the Amazon region of Ecuador are taking on an increasingly prominent role in advocating for the environment, and the Church is taking notice.

Reporting in any format accessible from Australia about the former Vatican economy chief's convictions in a Melbourne court in December was banned by a judge's suppression order that was only lifted in February.

The bishops argued in a March 22 statement that the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, or MATS, are needed to protect pregnant women as well.