Francis spent much of the past decade in relatively good health but has dealt with several painful medical conditions over the last few years.

In Pope Francis' autobiography Hope he reiterates themes of his papacy like hatred of war and unchecked capitalism, and a desire for the Catholic Church to be seen as a field hospital, not a fortress.

Pope Francis has baptised 21 babies in the Sistine Chapel under the ceiling frescoed by Michelangelo, in what has become an annual tradition that marks the end of the Christmas holiday period at the Vatican.

ROME — Pope Francis wrapped up a busy Christmas season on Monday by calling for the faithful to promote a culture of welcome and integration in their communities and reject discrimination.

POPE Francis had suffered a “contusion” on his right forearm after falling at his residence that same morning, the Vatican reported on Thursday. While the arm was not fractured in the accident, it was braced “as a precautionary measure,

Pope Francis told ambassadors accredited to the Holy See on Thursday that he wasn’t up to delivering his annual foreign policy speech and asked an aide to deliver it instead.

ROME -- Pope Francis wrapped up a busy Christmas season on Monday by calling for the faithful to promote a culture of welcome and integration in their communities and reject discrimination. Francis presided over Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark Epiphany.

Pope Francis has baptised 21 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday under the ceiling frescoed by Michelangelo, in what has become an annual tradition that marks the end of the Christmas holiday perio