Pope News

Rome - An Italian man was crushed to death on Wednesday by a giant crucifix honouring John Paul II that collapsed during a ceremony ahead of the late pope's canonisation.

- Pope Francis's habit of picking up the phone and cold calling people who write to him is landing the Vatican in hot water and spokesman Federico Lombardi has had enough.

- The Vatican on Tuesday brushed off accusations that late pope John Paul II was aware of and ignored allegations about sexual abuse carried by the Mexican founder of a powerful Catholic movement.

- Pope Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and Syria in an Easter Sunday address before 150,000 faithful in which he also condemned the "neglect and dire poverty" behind the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Africa.

- Pope Francis on Saturday called on Catholics to bring the message of God "to the very ends of the earth" during an Easter vigil mass in St Peter's Basilica.

Rome - Pope Francis attended an emotional night of prayers for hot-button social issues including domestic abuse, prison overcrowding and unemployment to mark the Good Friday before Easter.

Berlin - A German vintage car enthusiast set off Monday in a 1958 Polish-made car that belonged to John Paul II before he became pope, headed for Rome to honour his canonisation.

- While he may not be widely known internationally, Pope John XXIII holds a special place in the heart of many Italians and nowhere more so than in his homeland of Bergamo where he was born into a farming family.

- Pope Francis kicked off weeklong observances leading up to Easter by celebrating Palm Sunday mass with some 100,000 pilgrims in a sun-drenched St Peter's Square on Sunday.

- Pope Francis on Friday personally asked forgiveness for child sex abuse by priests -- the first time he has made such an apology since being elected last year."I feel compelled...