Pope Leo XIV has summoned the world's cardinals for two days of meetings to help him govern the church, in the clearest sign yet that the new year will signal the unofficial start of his pontificate.

The three octogenarian nuns broke out of a nursing home to go back to live in their convent, sparking a dispute with their church superior. Both sides have appealed to the Vatican for a resolution.

The Vatican returned 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples from Canada, a historic restitution that is part of the Catholic Church's reckoning with its role in helping suppress Indigenous culture.

Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at 15 in 2006, is known in the Catholic Church as "God's influencer" for harnessing technology to spread the word about miracles.

Until his final days, the late Pope Francis had regularly spoken to the priest at Gaza's Catholic church about the situation in the war-ravaged territory.

The remarks come just one day after the pope called for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine.

News of an American pope, and a Chicagoan, causes NPR's Scott Simon to remember what it was like attending Mass in his hometown.

As Cardinal Robert Prevost's name was announced, a sound of shock rose up. It was something few people had anticipated — the new pope is from the United States.

During his homily, delivered in Italian, Leo XIV said that Christians must serve a world that is often hostile to their beliefs.

Cardinal Robert Prevost made his first speech as Pope Leo XIV on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, shortly after being elected pontiff. This is a transcript of the speech, translated from its original Italian.

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope, the first time an American has led the Roman Catholic Church. Prevost, 69, chose the name Pope Leo XIV.

Black smoke streamed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning in Rome, signaling that the 133 cardinal electors have not come to a two-thirds agreement about who the next pontiff should be.

Black smoke streamed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the more than 130 cardinal electors have not come to a two-thirds agreement about who the next pope should be.

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 honored with a funeral Mass Saturday morning in the Vatican City's St. Peter's Square. These are some of the images that captured the grief of those mourning him around the world.