Live updates and latest news as the first North American pope steps into his role as the new leader of the Catholic Church.

VATICAN CITY — Three days after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in March 2013 ... He declared pollution a sin. Like John Paul II, the charismatic pontiff Francis ...

Twelve days later, during his solitary Eucharistic adoration to pray ... The basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major are only a mile apart. St. John Paul II revived the custom of ...

The Catholic hung photos of Pope Francis outside his souvenir ... Poland was the homeland of Pope John Paul II, whose death in 2005 prompted a national outpouring of grief. But the response ...

On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Maria Faustina Kowalska and declared the ... I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and then throughout the world. I promise that ...

Pope Francis's body lies in state at the chapel of Santa Martha at Vatican City. The publication added, “One faithful said the atmosphere was ruined by people ‘ignoring warnings’ and taking photos ...