Pope Francis has made normalizing relations with China a priority. But the Vatican and China remain at odds over the Vatican's insistence that the pope have the authority to name bishops.

Pope Francis said that priests must inform Catholic consciences “but not replace them.”

"International relations cannot be held captive to military force, mutual intimidation and the parading of stockpiles of arms," Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis is saying "Just Say No" to cigarettes.

"You Russians have in your blood, in your humanistic and religious tradition" an understanding of love, Francis said to Russian cosmonauts.

Rarely does the death of a private citizen elicit a formal letter of condolence from the Pope.

Pope Francis' committee of advisers on protecting children from sexually abusive priests is expanding its workload to include the needs and rights of children fathered by Roman Catholic priests.

Belgian religious order defies orders from Rome, setting up a confrontation over doctrine.

Pope Francis' absence was widely noted as tensions over the liturgy continue within the Church.

The ruling Communist Party is again telling members that atheism remains a core value, not to be transgressed.