Is the Francis honeymoon finally over? Actually, no
There's a fascination with the apparently mythical decline and fall of Francis. But polls show that the pope may not be as divisive or as upsetting to the public as he is to the pundits.
View ArticlePhotos: Pope Francis visits Cuba
Pope Francis has met the Castros, greeted rapturous crowds, and talked to youths during his visit to Cuba.
View ArticleUS Catholics approve of the pope’s direction, poll finds
Far more say the Church is in touch with the needs of Catholics today than at the end of his predecessor’s papacy.
View ArticleIn Cuba, a spontaneous pope muses on bad accountants and crying nuns
On Sunday night, he delivered two entirely off-the-cuff talks in Spanish centered on four of his core themes – poverty, mercy, friendship, and hope -- blending spiritual meditation with flashes of...
View ArticleChrist or Kardashian? Google searches aren’t very holy
It’s a veritable media pope-a-thon this week, but it’s not all good news on the God front: Americans just aren't as fascinated by things divine as we once were.
View ArticlePope Francis could reframe the US religious freedom debate
His approach in Cuba has been to make religious freedom seem a cause with appeal to both left and right, and to suggest that Catholic concern is broader than the typical hot-button issues.
View ArticlePope tells Cubans: As Cuba opens to the world, don’t lose your identity
Francis urged Cubans to embrace the transformation that will inevitably take place as the island continues to open to the outside world.
View ArticlePapal updates: Pope Francis serenaded by Cuban girls’ choir
Pope Francis was serenaded by a choir of Cuban girls after praying at the sanctuary of the country's patron saint, the Virgin of Charity of Cobre.
View ArticleFor Pope Francis in Cuba, even the pastoral becomes political
There are times when being pastoral is unavoidably political because even the unadorned Christian message is a challenge to the status quo. That’s been the case for Francis in Cuba; will it also be...
View ArticleFrom throne to popemobile: The pope’s ride rolls with the times
The popemobile has enabled pontiffs to navigate through large crowds. But it has undergone numerous iterations as the Vatican has tried to balance safety, accessibility, spontaneity, and technological...
View ArticlePhotos: Pope Francis visits the US
Pope Francis has landed on US soil for the first time in his life – and President Obama was there to greet him.
View ArticleHe has his faith, but not his Church
David O’Regan will tell you he’s had a “beautiful, blessed life.” But it's a life that unraveled as a result of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest. And he wonders why the pope hasn't done more to punish...
View ArticleA hobbled pope, and a visit that’s bigger than politics
If you've noticed the pope having a little trouble walking and sitting, there's a reason why. PLUS: For millions, Francis is who he is: inspiring, if sometimes confusing; a pastor trying to do his best...
View Article7 top issues Pope Francis has staked out for his papacy
Pope Francis is widely viewed as the "pope of change." But how is he changing the Catholic Church — and today's world? Here are seven main planks of his pontificate.
View ArticlePapal updates: Pope Francis settles in for first night in US
Francis has arrived at the papal ambassador's residence and gone inside.
View ArticlePope Francis arrives in the US; denies being a leftist
“Maybe there’s an impression I’m a little bit more leftie, but I haven’t said a single thing that’s not in the social doctrine of the Church,” Francis insisted.
View ArticleLessons from Cuba on what to expect from Pope Francis in the US
Watch for him to hint at ending the Cuban embargo, emphasize mercy, raise a wide range of issues, and weave social commentary throughout his words. Oh, and he'll probably ad-lib in Spanish.
View ArticlePhotos: Pope Francis visits Cuba
Pope Francis has met the Castros, greeted rapturous crowds, and talked to youths during his visit to Cuba.
View ArticleUS Catholics approve of the pope’s direction, poll finds
Far more say the Church is in touch with the needs of Catholics today than at the end of his predecessor’s papacy.
View ArticleIn Cuba, a spontaneous pope muses on bad accountants and crying nuns
On Sunday night, he delivered two entirely off-the-cuff talks in Spanish centered on four of his core themes – poverty, mercy, friendship, and hope -- blending spiritual meditation with flashes of...
View Article