Christopher White

Pope Francis offered a subtle send-off to the late Pope Benedict XVI in an historic Vatican funeral Jan. 5, praising Benedict's devotion to the Gospel and drawing to a close a 10-year period of two popes.

One of the first tasks of the U.S. bishops' lay-run National Review Board was to thoroughly investigate the nature of the clergy sexual abuse and cover-up scandal in the U.S. A key ally was the future Pope Benedict XVI.

Long before Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI, theologian Tracey Rowland was studying his scholarship — work that she believes should one day lead to Benedict being named a doctor of the church.

Thousands of people from around the world began to pay their final respects to the late Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 2, as his body was transferred into St. Peter's Basilica from the Vatican monastery where he resided for nearly ten years after his surprise resignation from the papacy in 2013.

In his first public remarks since retired Pope Benedict XVI's death on Dec. 31, Pope Francis praised the late pope's kindness and sacrifice, saying Catholics around the world should be grateful for the example he set, both as pope and in retirement. 

Following the death of retired Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 31, the Vatican has announced arrangements for his funeral and other details. Here's the latest.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI's health remains stable, the Vatican said on Dec. 30, just two days after Pope Francis called on Catholics from around the world to offer their prayers for what he described as a "very sick" former pontiff. 

Retired Pope Benedict XVI's health condition remains serious, but stable, according to a Dec. 29 statement from the Vatican press office. 

Pope Francis asked for prayers for retired Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 28, saying he is "very sick."

During his annual Christmas Day message, Pope Francis lamented the "famine of peace" sparked by the invasion of Ukraine, saying that the 10-month-long war had wreaked havoc on Ukrainians and aggravated a crisis of hunger around the globe.

Pope Francis marked the start of Christmas at the Vatican by cautioning that it is impossible to celebrate the birth of Jesus without concern for the poor.

Pope Francis warned top Vatican officials against the temptation of believing the Catholic Church is no longer in need of conversion and said that a pure church only for the pure would be a return to heresy. 

The pope traditionally delivers a Christmas message that encourages humility and simplicity.

Be it among refugees in Poland or those who remain in Ukraine, there is widely shared determination that however long is necessary, the country is willing to continue battling Russia to defend its territorial integrity.

Prolife activist Frank Pavone has been dismissed from the priesthood, according to a Dec. 13 letter to U.S. bishops.

The foreign minister said that although Pope Francis has been a "symbol of sympathy, compassion and spiritual support" for Ukrainian Catholics, the pope cannot jointly call on the governments of both Russia and Ukraine to end the war, as it gives the impression that both parties bear some of the responsibility.

Fr. Michael Ryan synthesized the synodal listening sessions at Seattle's cathedral where he is pastor. He was stunned to later find out his words were echoed at the Vatican to describe a new era in church life.

Pope Francis' much anticipated and twice delayed trip to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo is back on, the Vatican announced on Dec. 1.

The Vatican on Nov. 26 publicly criticized the Chinese government's transfer of a Catholic bishop, and some human rights advocates and religious freedom experts hope this noted shift in Rome's posture will continue.

Pope Francis has removed the top leadership of Caritas Internationalis in response to an internal review process that reportedly revealed serious management and morale issues inside the organization.