The Vatican has taken the first main step to implement Pope Francis’ wish that Belgium’s late king be beatified.

He made the remarks a day after the start of Roman Catholic Church’s Holy Year, known as a Jubilee, which takes place every quarter century. On Tuesday evening, Francis opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica so that the first pilgrims could go through. Millions more are expected to follow over the year.

Pope Francis has appointed a new bishop to a Texas-based diocese who will replace a theologically conservative critic of the pontiff removed from office last year.

Joe Biden's visit with Pope Francis will be part of a three-day trip to Italy in January, likely the last international trip of Biden's presidency.

“The president thanked the pope for his continued advocacy to alleviate global suffering, including his work to advance human rights and protect religious freedoms,” the statement read. “President Biden also graciously accepted His Holiness Pope Francis’ invitation to visit the Vatican next month.”

The White House announced that President Joe Biden will head to Italy early next month for a public meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City. During the trip he will also hold meetings with Italy's Prime Minister and President.

Hope lives, Francis reminded the faithful on Christmas Eve, as he spoke of the blessed arrival of the Christ Child and the start of the Jubilee.

President Joe Biden is expected to announce soon that he will visit the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis next month for what would likely be the final international trip of his presidency

such as the constitutionalization of abortion and French-style secularism, to which the Pope prefers a more flexible, "Corsican-style" secularism. Earlier on Sunday, Pope Francis was welcomed by ...

President Joe Biden is expected to see Pope Francis on what is likely to be the last overseas trip of his presidency, three unnamed sources familiar with the matter told The Associated Press (AP) in a story published Thursday. The trip is scheduled for next month, according to the sources.

The Vatican has taken the first main step to implement Pope Francis ... is long behind us.” Francis has strongly backed the Catholic Church’s opposition to abortion and long equated it ...

Pope Francis has issued an urgent appeal for peace during his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" address on Christmas Day, calling on "all people, all peoples and nations" to "silence the weapons and overcome divisions.