The Vatican houses the central government of the Catholic Church and is also an independent city-state. The pope is both the ...

Vatican City, the world's smallest country, hasn't seen a birth in 96 years due to its unique population of celibate clergy ...

St Peter's Square is bustling, but behind the Vatican's walls, activities have slowed as the Catholic Church grapples with ...

The Catholic Church has opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter without the participation of Pope Francis ...

Francis has weighed in publicly before on ethics for end-of-life medical situations, but it is unknown whether he has made ...

Pope Francis is resting after sleeping through the night with a ventilation mask as he undergoes hospital treatment for ...

VATICAN CITY — Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray for an ailing Pope Francis, expressing sorrow for ...

On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics receive a sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, a gesture that underscores ...

While the Vatican has detailed laws and rituals to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns, they do not ...

The pope, who has chronic lung disease, has been stable for two days after suffering two respiratory crises Monday.

Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, LC, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State and president of the Pontifical ...

Despite his hospitalization, the pope has maintained a degree of governance and authorized the appointment of four new ...