Phil Saviano, Catholic church sex abuse survivor and whistleblower, dies

Saviano played a central role in illuminating the scandal, which led to the resignation of Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law and church settlements with hundreds of victims.

France's Catholic Church agrees to compensate victims of sexual abuse

French bishops said in a written statement on Monday that they will set up an “independent, national body” tasked with addressing compensation issues regarding sex abuse victims.

Diwali 2021: What to know about the festival of lights

The Hindu festival of Diwali, which symbolizes new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, is being celebrated by millions across the world.

Biden receives Communion in Rome amid abortion debate in US

While President Joe Biden regularly receives Communion in his home dioceses in Washington and Delaware, it was significant that he also received Communion in Rome.

Biden: Pope Francis told him he should 'keep receiving communion'

President Joe Biden said the issue of abortion did not come up in his meeting with Pope Francis, but that the pontiff said he should keep receiving Communion.

Megan Rice, nun imprisoned over peace activism, dies at 91

Megan Rice died of congestive heart failure Oct. 10 at Holy Child Center in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, according to her order, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus

Pope expresses 'shame' at scale of child sex abuse by clergy in France

Pope Francis expressed “shame” over a report that estimated some 330,000 French children were abused by clergy and other church authority figures.

Hillsong founder says COVID-19 vaccine is a ‘personal decision’ after church member dies

Hillsong Church Founder Brian Houston said much of his staff are fully vaccinated after church member Stephen Harmon, refused to get inoculated and later died from COVID-19.

Pope Francis returns to Vatican 10 days after surgery

Pope Francis arrived at the Vatican Wednesday after being discharged from a Rome hospital 10 days after intestinal surgery to remove half of his colon.

Pope Francis eats breakfast, takes walk 2 days after intestinal surgery

Pope Francis ate breakfast Tuesday and took a walk as he continues to recover from a scheduled intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis alert and well after intestinal surgery, Vatican says

Pope Francis is “in good condition, alert and breathing on his own,” a day after he underwent planned intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.

Vatican law criminalizes sexual abuse of adults by priests, laity

After 14 years of study, Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office can be sanctioned too.

Italian judge on the path to sainthood after getting killed by mobsters

A magistrate slain by mobsters in Sicily and praised by two popes has been beatified by the Roman Catholic church on Sunday in the last formal step before possible sainthood.

Catholic bishops debate if Biden should receive communion given abortion stance

There’s a deep gulf between Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego in the high-stakes debate over whether politicians who support abortion rights should be denied Communion

Some Holy Land sites reopen as Christians mark Good Friday

Christians in the Holy Land are marking Good Friday this year amid signs the coronavirus crisis is winding down.

US church membership falls below 50% for 1st time in nearly a century

For the first time since the late 1930s, less than half of Americans say they belong to a church, synagogue or mosque, according to a new Gallup poll.

New Dead Sea Scrolls dating back nearly 2,000 years discovered in Israel

The new Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing a biblical text are believed to have been hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago.

In visit to Baghdad, Pope Francis urges Iraq to embrace its Christians

Pope Francis has urged Iraqis to treat their Christian brothers as a precious resource to protect, not an “obstacle” to eliminate as he opens the first-ever papal visit to Iraq.