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Pope Francis said he will offer 'spiritual and material' support to Kenya

Pope Francis in Kenya at start of African tour

Pope Francis has arrived in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on his first papal visit to Africa.

Italian journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi arrive at the Vatcian this morning

Trial begins in Vatican over controversial books

Five people, including two Italian reporters, have gone on trial in the Vatican on charges arising from the publication of books in which the Holy See is portrayed as mired in mismanagement and corruption.

World • 24 Nov 15

Diarmuid Martin said it was too early to say if Pope Francis would attend the World Meeting of Families
in 2018

Pope determined to visit Ireland - Archbishop

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said he believes Pope Francis is determined to visit Ireland.

News • 28 Sep 15

The Vatican said the meeting was strictly private and not a state visit

Pope Francis meets Cuba's Raul Castro

Pope Francis has met Cuba's Raul Castro who thanked the pontiff for brokering the thaw between Havana and Washington.

News • 11 May 15

A woman and baby are helped disembark from an Italian navy vessel after a rescue at sea

Pope urges global response to migrant crisis

Pope Francis has urged the international community to act over a surge in the numbers of migrants attempting to reach Italy in dangerous sea crossings from north Africa.

News • 19 Apr 15

Pope Francis marks 100 years since the mass killings of Armenians

Pope marks 100th anniversary of Armenia genocide

Pope Francis used the word "genocide" today to describe the 1915 mass murder of Armenians, in a move likely to severely strain diplomatic ties with Turkey.

News • 12 Apr 15

The Pope was marking the Church's First International Day of Prayer and Awareness against human trafficking

Pope calls for action against human trafficking

In the Vatican Pope Francis prayed for victims of human trafficking and called on governments to act against what he called "the shameful scourge".

News • 08 Feb 15

Francis called for a more just and caring society in the Philippines

Pope urges Philippine govt to tackle corruption

Pope Francis has called on the Philippine government to tackle corruption and hear the cries of the poor suffering from "scandalous social inequalities" in Asia's most Catholic country.

News • 16 Jan 15

Pope Francis attends his weekly audience in the Vatican this morning

Pope to raffle gifts to raise money for the poor

Pope Francis is to raffle gifts to raise money for the poor.

News • 19 Nov 14

The Synod has been called to discuss how the church should respond to increasing alienation among members

Pope urges Synod participants to speak their mind

Pope Francis has urged participants in a summit on the future of the Catholic family not to shrink from saying what they think because of a fear of what other people might think of them.

News • 06 Oct 14

About 200 cardinals and senior bishops as well as 50 others are attending the gathering

Pope opens synod on family and marriage

Pope Francis has appealed to participants in an Extraordinary Synod on the Catholic family - not to discuss beautiful and clever ideas - or to compete to see who is more intelligent.

News • 05 Oct 14

Pope Francis attends a Mass for peace at Myeong-dong cathedral in Seoul, South Korea

Pope says Islamist State militants must be stopped

The international community is justified in stopping Islamist militants in Iraq, Pope Francis has said.

News • 18 Aug 14

Pope Francis leads the beatification ceremony of 124 Korean martyrs (depicted on screen during the mass

Pope beatifies South Korean martyrs

Pope Francis has beatified 124 South Korean martyrs, who were killed in the 18th and 19th centuries for refusing to renounce Christianity.

News • 16 Aug 14

Marie Collins said she believed the Pope's comments were sincere

Abuse survivor welcomes Pope's comments on abuse

Abuse survivor Marie Collins has said she believes comments made by the Pope about the numbers of priests who have abused children are hugely significant.

News • 14 Jul 14

Pope Emeritus Benedict greets cardinals as he leaves St Peter's Basilica at the end of the Consistory at the weekend

Former pope Benedict denies he was forced to quit

Former pope Benedict, in one of the few times he has broken his silence since stepping down nearly a year ago, has branded as "absurd" fresh media speculation that he was forced to quit.

News • 26 Feb 14

New move by Pole Francis to overhaul Vatican's finances

Pope creates office to oversee Vatican finances

Pope Francis has taken his boldest step yet to overhaul the Vatican's often murky finances.

Business • 24 Feb 14

The helicopter carrying Pope emeritus Benedict XVI lands at the Vatican

Pope Emeritus Benedict returns to the Vatican

Benedict XVI has moved back to the Vatican opening an uncertain era in Catholic Church history where an "emeritus pope" and a ruling pontiff will live as neighbours for the first time.

World • 02 May 13

Francis has set a more austere tone for the papacy than his predecessor

Pope Francis living in 'simple' Vatican residence

Pope Francis wants to stay in a simple Vatican residence instead of moving into the spacious and regal papal apartments for the time being, the Vatican has said.

News • 26 Mar 13

Pope Francis 'wants church to be poor'

Pope Francis has said that he wants the Catholic Church to be poor and that its mission should be focused on serving the poor.

News • 16 Mar 13

Micheál Martin asked if the Government would now consider providing funds to reopen the embassy

FF calls on Govt to reopen Vatican embassy

There have been calls for the reopening of Ireland's embassy to the Vatican, to mark the election of a new pope.

News • 14 Mar 13

The cardinals will write their selection onto ballot papers that contain no pre-printed candidates' names

Cardinals swear secrecy ahead of conclave

Cardinals have processed into the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, where they will elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

Special Reports • 12 Mar 13

Vatican firefighters set up the chimney on the roof of the Sistine chapel

Chimney erected on Sistine Chapel for conclave

Vatican workers have hoisted a chimney onto the roof of the Sistine Chapel in readiness for the conclave of cardinals that will elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

News • 09 Mar 13

All of the cardinals eligible to vote are in the Vatican

Conclave to elect new pope to start on 12 March

The Conclave to elect a new pope following the resignation of Pope Benedict will begin on 12 March.

News • 08 Mar 13

He told cardinals yesterday that his successor will have his full support

Formal talks on electing new pope begin next week

Formal talks on the process of electing the next pope will begin in Rome on Monday, according to the Dean of the College of Cardinals.

News • 01 Mar 13

Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Pope Benedict for bravely defending the values of Judaism

Israeli PM thanks Pope for defending Judaism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked Pope Benedict for his efforts to shore up often troubled relations between the Roman Catholic Church and Jews.

News • 18 Feb 13