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

“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.”

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.

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

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 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 ...

The Vatican has taken the first main step to implement Pope Francis' wish that Belgium's late king be beatified for having abdicated for a day rather than approve legislation to legalize abortion. Des

ROME — The Vatican has taken the first main step to implement Pope Francis’ wish that Belgium ... rather than approve legislation to legalize abortion. The Holy See’s saint-making office ...

Pilgrims lined up to walk through the great Holy Door at the entrance of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome as Christmas marks the start of the 2025 Holy Year celebration.

He made the remarks a day after the start of the 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.

The pope opened the Jubilee Holy Doors praying that the Holy Spirit would soften hearts so that "enemies may speak to each other again."

Pope Francis called for peace around the world and for global conflicts to end in his annual “Urbi et Orbi” Christmas message to the faithful.