Vásquez was most recently selected by Francis to oversee the Diocese of Tyler, also in Texas, after he dismissed its former bishop, Joseph Strickland, who had openly accused the pope of being a heretic and called into question the validity of his leadership.

Rome — Pope Francis fell Thursday and hurt his right arm, the Vatican said, just weeks after another apparent fall resulted in a bad bruise on his chin. Francis didn't break his arm, but a sling was put on as a precaution, the Vatican spokesman said in a statement

Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini will become head of the General Secretariat of the Government of the Vatican City State in March.

After the pope criticized Trump's deportation plans, MAGA figures have suggested deporting illegal migrants to Vatican City.

Pope Francis has hailed the release of Cuban prisoners as a "gesture of great hope" that he prays will be undertaken elsewhere.

The Catholics surrounding Trump’s second term are best represented by his vice president, JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism and embraced family-oriented and conservative policies, echoing a general trend of young U.S. Catholic men shifting rightward.

"Each time a pope takes ill, the winds of a conclave always feel as if they are blowing," Francis writes in his new memoir, referring to centuries-old tradition of cardinals gathering in the pope's official residence, the Sistine Chapel, after a pontiff's death to elect the next.

Biden spoke by phone with His Holiness Pope Francis Saturday morning and "expressed his deep regret" that he was unable to visit Rome and Vatican City.

Starting in the new year, Pope Francis has introduced a new allowance of $320 for families with multiple children who are employees of the Governorate of Vatican City State. He has also extended paid paternity leave.

The appointment marks a major step in Pope Francis’ aim to give women more leadership roles in governing the church.

Pope Francis will install Franciscan nun Raffaella Petrini as head of the General Secretariat of the Government of the State.