Christopher White

Kicking off a trip to two African nations Jan. 31, the pope warned world leaders and warring ethnic groups to stop exploiting Africa's vast natural resources and depriving its people of a "future of peace and prosperity."

Catholic environmental experts and advocates hope Pope Francis' visit to the Congo draws attention to how competition for the country's minerals harms the environment and the people.

Pope Francis on Jan. 30 accepted the resignation of Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and appointed Chicago-born Augustinian Bishop Robert Francis Prevost, currently serving in Chiclayo, Peru, to head the influential Vatican office responsible for recommending priests to be named bishops. 

The pope will undertake one of the most strenuous trips of his papacy when he travels to Congo and South Sudan Jan. 31-Feb. 5.

Pope Francis has condemned the criminalization of homosexuality, becoming the first Roman pontiff to officially back the repeal of such legislation in countries where it exists.

Rome is more of a hub than a corporate headquarters, says Bishop Paul Tighe, a secretary for the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education.

In an NCR interview, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the Vatican's lead clergy abuse investigator, speaks about his work under both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Pope Francis offered a subtle send-off to the late Pope Benedict XVI in an historic Vatican funeral Jan. 5, praising Benedict's devotion to the Gospel and drawing to a close a 10-year period of two popes.

One of the first tasks of the U.S. bishops' lay-run National Review Board was to thoroughly investigate the nature of the clergy sexual abuse and cover-up scandal in the U.S. A key ally was the future Pope Benedict XVI.

Long before Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI, theologian Tracey Rowland was studying his scholarship — work that she believes should one day lead to Benedict being named a doctor of the church.

Thousands of people from around the world began to pay their final respects to the late Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 2, as his body was transferred into St. Peter's Basilica from the Vatican monastery where he resided for nearly ten years after his surprise resignation from the papacy in 2013.

In his first public remarks since retired Pope Benedict XVI's death on Dec. 31, Pope Francis praised the late pope's kindness and sacrifice, saying Catholics around the world should be grateful for the example he set, both as pope and in retirement. 

Following the death of retired Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 31, the Vatican has announced arrangements for his funeral and other details. Here's the latest.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI's health remains stable, the Vatican said on Dec. 30, just two days after Pope Francis called on Catholics from around the world to offer their prayers for what he described as a "very sick" former pontiff. 

Retired Pope Benedict XVI's health condition remains serious, but stable, according to a Dec. 29 statement from the Vatican press office. 

Pope Francis asked for prayers for retired Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 28, saying he is "very sick."

During his annual Christmas Day message, Pope Francis lamented the "famine of peace" sparked by the invasion of Ukraine, saying that the 10-month-long war had wreaked havoc on Ukrainians and aggravated a crisis of hunger around the globe.

Pope Francis marked the start of Christmas at the Vatican by cautioning that it is impossible to celebrate the birth of Jesus without concern for the poor.

Pope Francis warned top Vatican officials against the temptation of believing the Catholic Church is no longer in need of conversion and said that a pure church only for the pure would be a return to heresy. 

The pope traditionally delivers a Christmas message that encourages humility and simplicity.