The appointments are part of an ongoing effort to give a greater role to women in the work of the Roman Curia offices, the central administration of the Catholic church.

The kidnapping became an international scandal and contributed to the anti-clerical sentiment sweeping across Europe.

John O'Malley's new book completes his trinity of works on church councils.

This week, we talk with Guy Consolmagno, S.J.—a Jesuit brother and director of the Vatican Observatory.

Francis' “modest goal” is “to re-propose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time.”