John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 -- the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin...

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is getting back into its centuries-old tradition of arts patronage with its first-ever exhibit at the Venice Biennale, commissioning a biblically inspired show about creation, destruction and renewal for one of the...

VATICAN CITY -- Centuries after it helped kick-start Western art, the Vatican is seeking to break back into the art world with its first-ever pavilion at the prestigious Venice Biennale. The display includes a very modern mix of photography and...

One of the first things Argentinian native Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio did after being elected pope on March 13 was to send a message of friendship to Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni — and, by extension, the Jewish people. "I sincerely hope to...

In Britain and around the world, supporters of the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher celebrated her legacy Monday. Even some of her sharpest critics said she defined an era in British public life -- if not always for the right reasons. Among those...

Apr 24 (TheWrap.com) - The Gibson Amphitheatre will close its doors in September, Live Nation Entertainment said Wednesday. The venue, which opened in 1972 as Universal  Amphitheatre and is located at Universal Studios Hollywood, will be replaced by the...

Fifteen years to the day that he became a prince of the Roman Catholic Church, Chicago's Cardinal Francis George said he wouldn't rule out the possibility of a fellow American becoming pope. During and after a lecture at Loyola University Chicago School...

ROME -- Pope Francis has called on the Roman Catholic Church to "act decisively" to end the sexual abuse of minors by priests, the Vatican said Friday. At a meeting with the head of the Vatican's doctrinal department, Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, Francis...

Newly elected Pope Francis represents change in many respects. He is the first pope from the New World (and the first from outside of Europe in 1,200 years), the first Jesuit and the first Francis. But for American Catholics, who in poll after poll in...

VATICAN CITY -- Spectacular views of Rome, stands of palm and magnolia trees, the Sistine Chapel close by -- these are the amenities awaiting the first pope to step down in more than 600 years after he moves into his retirement home this spring. A week...

I've run into more than my fair share of actors, singers and athletes over the years. You would think I would be able to handle the pressure of saying "hello."  I cannot.  My latest celeb fail was a couple of weeks ago at Cubs spring training in Mesa,...

VATICAN CITY (AP) — At gatherings of Latin American bishops, then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was often a star speaker about economic inequities in a profit-driven world. He also has used the forums to warn fellow church leaders about drifting from...