The Vatican has long justified the costs because its communications operations are at the core of the Holy See’s main mission: to communicate the Catholic faith to all corners of the globe.

Cardinal George Pell is enjoying his first Roman spring since being exonerated of sex abuse charges in his native Australia.

While May 24 has been celebrated with prayer for and with the church in China every year since 2008, Francis’ message on Sunday comes at the end of a week in which a number of troubling news reports reached the Vatican.

Pope Francis identified three suggestions that are typical of the Holy Spirit: Live in the present. Look to the whole. Put God before yourself.

I derive much of my hope, inner peace and creative inspiration from those saints and prophets who lived in and spoke from the margins outside the white, privileged worlds of power and authority in both church and society.