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Despite detractors within the church, Pope Francis' emphasis on humility and mercy has won him strong support worldwide. He has addressed thorny issues such as Vatican finances and clerical sex abuse.
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Earlier this week an interim summary of the synod on family issues included conciliatory language on gays and on the taking of holy communion for divorced church members.
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Pope Francis hasn't ruled out changing church doctrine that bars divorced and remarried Catholics from receiving Holy Communion. There are fierce opponents, while others favor simplifying annulment.
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Bishops are meeting with Pope Francis these next two weeks for an extraordinary conference to debate family matters – including hot-button issues like artificial contraception and gay civil unions.
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It's been one year since Pope Benedict XVI stepped down. Now, he has publicly called speculation that he might not have resigned willingly "simply absurd."
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The choices reflect the pope's belief that the church leadership should resemble the changing makeup of its members. New cardinals come from the Philippines, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast and Haiti.
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The United Nations watchdog for children's rights has accused the Vatican of caring more about its own reputation and members of the clergy than the victims of sexual abuse. The group is calling for the Vatican to immediately remove any priests suspected of sexually abusing children.
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Former Vatican ambassador Francis Rooney discusses his book, "Global Vatican"Ornithologist Richard Gibbons talks the joys of Louisiana birdwatching, and…
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In an interview, Archbishop Pietro Parolin said priest celibacy is not an untouchable church dogma. What his declaration signals, however, is still up in the air.