Religious Leaders

After rebuke by archbishop, Cardinal Mahony takes higher profile

2013-05-09 17:55:00

When Archbishop Jose Gomez stripped his predecessor, Cardinal Roger Mahony, of public duties for mishandling clergy sex abuse cases, a church spokesman said the retired prelate's life would remain largely the same with one exception: confirmations. No...

Pope Francis reaffirms crackdown on U.S. nuns

2013-04-15 15:16:00

ROME — Pope Francis has backed the Vatican's doctrinal crackdown on a major group of American nuns, reasserting the Roman Catholic Church's conservative approach to various social issues in a move that could cool the warm reception he has received...

Pope Francis appoints panel to study overhaul of the Vatican

2013-04-13 07:46:00

ROME -- Pope Francis launched a long-awaited cleanup of the Vatican by announcing a task force Saturday made up of eight high-ranking cardinals, including one American, who will determine how best to reform the much-criticized Curia, or Vatican...

Pope Francis meets Argentine president, smooths tensions

2013-03-18 10:28:00

ROME – He called her policies an “attack on God’s plan.” She described him as “medieval.” But Pope Francis and President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the leader of his native Argentina, kissed and made up Monday...

Pope Francis delivers first public blessing, calls for 'mercy'

2013-03-17 04:43:00

VATICAN CITY -- Tens of thousands of pilgrims Sunday greeted Pope Francis on his first scheduled appearance before the general public, shouting their acclaim in St. Peter’s Square as the pope gave the first Angelus blessing of his pontificate....

Brazilian support for an Argentine pope

2013-03-16 08:34:00

VATICAN CITY – The pope may be considered by his followers to be head of the universal Catholic Church, but that doesn’t stop national feelings from bubbling to the surface when a new pontiff is named. Before the conclave this week to...

The Catholic Church and Argentina

2013-03-17 00:00:00

Very few Argentines were on hand for the proceedings, for the white smoke followed by the traditional proclamation, Habemus papam — "We have a pope." But on the other side of the world, the people of Buenos Aires erupted with jubilation when they...

Vatican defends Pope Francis' record during Argentina's 'dirty war'

2013-03-15 08:12:00

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican on Friday denied that Pope Francis acquiesced to Argentina's brutal military regime in the 1970s and '80s, saying the accusations are part of a "defamatory” campaign. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was elected pope...

Cardinal Bergoglio chosen as new pope

2013-03-13 13:35:00

VATICAN CITY -- Jorge Mario Bergoglio was named the 266th pope Wednesday, succeeding Benedict XVI as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and inheriting a global church that is growing in some parts of the world but faces serious...

Francis, a pope of firsts

2013-03-14 00:00:00

The election of a new pope is primarily of interest to Roman Catholics, for whom the bishop of Rome is the Vicar of Christ and the keeper of the keys to heaven. But there is a reason, other than a fascination with history and pageantry, that the wider...

Top cardinal defends Mahony on abuse scandal, takes on critics

2013-02-26 09:12:47

After Benedict XVI

2013-02-12 00:00:00

In nearly eight years as pope, Benedict XVI embraced a traditionalist — and to many critics, authoritarian — view of both the papacy and of church teaching. So it's ironic that he will be remembered for his revolutionary decision to relinquish...

Participants at World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, in August 2005 stand in front of a poster of Pope Benedict XVI.

2013-02-11 04:31:00

Artist Georg Schmitt carries a cardboard figure of Pope Benedict XVI in Cologne, Germany, in August 2005, where the pope celebrated World Youth Day. Schmitt was taking photos of people posing with the cardboard figure as part of his photo project.

2013-02-11 04:31:00

Kelsey Flannery (center) of Oak Park celebrates her 16th birthday with friends at the "Pope table" in Buca di Beppo Restaurant in Chicago's River North area in November 2007.

2013-02-11 04:15:00