Pope Francis expressed concern about "the increasingly concrete threat of a world war" at a New Year's reception for foreign ambassadors to the Holy See on Thursday. The head of the Catholic Church called on diplomats to engage in dialogue,

President Joe Biden has canceled a planned trip to Rome to meet with Pope Francis so that he can instead focus on federal response to the rapidly moving wildfires that are tearing through the Los Angeles area,

In what would have been his last overseas trip as president, Joe Biden had been set to depart for Italy Thursday night to meet with Pope Francis.

Putting a spotlight on the “scourge of child labor,” the Holy Father lamented that there are “too many children forced to work” who are unable to smile or dream.

Pope Francis had a message for nuns, convey joy while refraining from gossip, he said as he addressed a gathering of nuns from the Union of St. Catherine of Siena of the Missionaries of the School

Children occupy a privileged place in God’s heart, and whoever harms them will be accountable to him,” the Pontiff said.

President Biden has canceled his upcoming trip to Italy, including an audience with Pope Francis, to “remain focused on directing the full federal response” in the wake of the devastating wildfires raging in California.

Vedovelli put the ball up, got fouled and made the basket. After dusting himself off, the senior made the following free throw, giving him his 1,000th career point. Pope Francis went on to win, 59-54, keeping its undefeated start to the season alive.

Pope Francis’s appointment of Cardinal Robert McElroy as the highly visible prelate of the church in Washington is already being interpreted as a shot across the bow of the Trump administration, given the new archbishop’s outspoken views on immigrants’ rights.

Pope Francis on Wednesday enjoyed a performance by members of an African-themed circus troupe called CircAfrica. The group brought acrobats, robot-operated elephants, jugglers and dancers on roller skates to perform for the pope in the Vatican auditorium.

Reflecting on the Prologue of John’s Gospel, the Pope reminded the faithful that Jesus, the Word Incarnate, is ‘the light that shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’