Sao Paulo Cardinal Odilo Scherer said his predecessor "gave his life to God after having generously dedicated it to his brothers in this world."

Christians are the second-highest educated religious group in the world, according to the Pew Research Center.

The woman's killing in a public square was the cruelest moment in the descent of this once proud city.

Activists and fighters trapped in the opposition's last sliver of territory in Aleppo said pro-government forces had struck their district with dozens of rockets since mid-morning.

U.N. reports the safe withdrawal of people from the besieged area was now "imminent."

The pope asked Assad "to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid."