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STEFANO RELLANDINI/REUTERS Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic palace in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday. VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has named his first batch of cardinals, choosing 19 men from Asia, Africa, North and South America and elsewhere, including Haiti and Burkino Faso, to reflect his attention ...

TONY GENTILE/REUTERS Fabian Baez, a priest from a church in downtown Buenos Aires, sits in the popemobile as Pope Francis arrives to lead the Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter’s square at the Vatican January 8, 2014. Take our Poll Cruising in the popemobile What do you think of Pope Francis breaking protocol to give his friend the ride of ...

It was the best of times … and the worst! Here’s a roundup of our favorite and least favorite moments of 2013. KLG: I loved when the little boy came up to the Pope and hugged his leg and sat in the Pope’s chair and the way the Pope reacted to him. It’s a new Pope, and it’s such a ...

FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis waves to the faithful Tuesday before visiting the crib in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis used his year-end prayer service Tuesday to urge people to ask themselves a tough question: Did they mainly spend 2013 promoting self-interests or helping others? “Let us courageously ask ourselves: How did we live ...

ETTORE FERRARI/EPA Pope Francis carried the statue of baby Jesus himself during Christmas Eve Mass, a task usually taken by his aides. Riding a worldwide wave of goodwill and popularity to his first Christmas Eve Mass as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to emulate Jesus to avoid the darkness of the world. The bells ...

Pope Francis (right) met his predecessor, Benedict XVI, at Benedict’s retirement home in the Vatican Monday. Pope Francis visited his predecessor Benedict XVI Monday to exchange Christmas greetings. The two men, dressed in white cassocks and skull caps, were photographed meeting at Benedict’s retirement home within the walls of the Vatican. AP Pope Francis (right) paid a visit to Benedict ...

FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis has made certain Italian mobsters nervous through his effort to reform the church, and by speaking out against corruption, it was reported.  An anti-mob prosecutor in Italy has warned that Pope Francis has ruffled feathers among the ‘Ndrangheta organized crime organization. Nicola Gratteri, 55, a state prosecutor in the Calabria region of southern Italy, said ...