As more than a billion Catholics around the world await the election of a new pope, all eyes will be on the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals will begin the secretive process known as a conclave.
Pope Francis was a master of making emotional connections. He was, at heart, a pastor to wounded souls. Here are some of the most memorable moments of Pope Francis' papacy.
Francis, 88, has been in critical condition for several days and he has remained absent from several regular appearances. The church has encouraged worshippers around the world to pray for his health.
Some parishioners say an approximately $4 million “redecoration” project at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus seeks to modernize the historic church and erase the history of the generations of community members who helped build and decorate it.
Debates about abortion often center around the issue of when life begins. Some religions say it's at conception. Another says it's with the baby's first breath.
The Catholic Diocese of Phoenix found that Rev. Andres Arango had been incorrectly saying "we baptize" instead of "I baptize." The error made thousands of baptisms and subsequent sacraments invalid.
The pope and the president share liberal stances on climate change and economic disparity. A theology scholar argues U.S. Catholic Church leadership is increasingly allied with the political right.
A Vatican investigation into church leaders' failings that allowed the rise of a now-disgraced former U.S. cardinal has led some Catholics to call for "difficult reckoning" with the sainted pope.
