Christopher White

As Ukraine endured its seventh day of Russia's invasion, Cardinal Pietro Parolin marked the start of the Lenten season on March 2 by offering prayers for "those who suffer and flee before the roar of weapons." 

Pope Francis on Feb. 27 again pleaded for peace, saying "those who make war forget humanity." 

Pope Francis called Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to express "his deepest sorrow for the tragic events that are taking place in our country."

Pope Francis left the Vatican on Feb. 25 to pay a visit to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See where he expressed his concerns over the country's war against Ukraine. 

Pope Francis has canceled his Feb. 27 visit to Florence and a planned celebration of an Ash Wednesday Mass on March 2 due to knee pain.

Less than 24-hours after Russia began a full-on invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the Vatican warned of the threat of international destabilization, while maintaining "there is still time for goodwill, there is still room for negotiation."

For weeks Pope Francis has been calling for peace in Ukraine. The Vatican's secretary of state has offered assurances of solidarity with the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the country. But one word has been missing: Russia.

A prominent French priest barred from exercising public ministry due to abuse allegations is attending a major Vatican conference on the priesthood.

Pope Francis on Feb. 17 kicked off a much anticipated three-day Vatican conference on the future of the Catholic priesthood by upholding clerical celibacy.

Appointed to lead the Congregation for Bishops by Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Marc Ouellet has stayed on under Pope Francis — but he acknowledges some of what's expected of him and other bishops has changed.

The Vatican's secretary of state has called the head of the Ukraine's Eastern-rite Catholics to express the closeness of the Holy See at a time of escalating tensions with neighboring Russia. 

In a public spat between members of the Catholic hierarchy, Czech Cardinal Dominik Duka has accused German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of "defaming and tarnishing" the reputation of retired Pope Benedict XVI.

 Pope Francis has created an independent section of the Vatican's doctrinal office to handle disciplinary matters related to the sexual abuse of minors. 

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse are criticizing retired Pope Benedict XVI's response to a report that faulted his handling of abuse cases, calling his lack of a direct apology an abdication of personal responsibility.

Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 8 acknowledged past failings of the Catholic Church in confronting clergy sexual abuse under his watch.

Pope Francis has tapped Bishop Shelton Fabre as the new archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky.

Pope Francis blasted the throwing of plastic in the sea as "criminal" in an hourlong interview on Italian broadcaster RAI. "It kills biodiversity, it kills the Earth, it kills everything," said the pope.

Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby may undertake their much anticipated, but delayed joint trip to South Sudan in "the next few months."

U.S. President Joe Biden joined Pope Francis and Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of al-Azhar, in marking the International Day of Human Fraternity.

Pope Francis' weekly general audience was interrupted on Feb. 2 by a maskless protester