Junno Arocho Esteves

Feeling ashamed of one's sins does not mean wallowing in guilt, but is the gateway all men and women can use to experience firsthand God's tender mercy and forgiveness, Pope Francis said.

During a brief ceremony in the Vatican Gardens, Pope Francis blessed a new statue of a 10th-century Armenian monk he had declared a "doctor of the church" in 2015.

The final words at Mass — "Go in peace" — are an invitation to Christians to proclaim God's blessings through their lives, not an opportunity to go speak ill of others, Pope Francis said.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of a dignified life for all men and women regardless of color or creed continues to live on in the teachings of one his most influential admirers, Pope Francis, a Vatican representative said.

The Vatican said comments attributed to Pope Francis denying the existence of hell are a product of an Italian journalist's "reconstruction" of the pope's remarks and not a faithful transcript of the pope's real words.  

Many people admire St. Padre Pio, but too few imitate him, especially in his care for the weak, the sick and those who modern culture treats as disposable, Pope Francis said.

The revelation of God's love toward humanity is made known through contemplating the crucifix and not just using it as work of art or as a fashion accessory, Pope Francis said.

Going out to the "peripheries" may be a phrase favored by Pope Francis, but even in diplomatic affairs, it is something the Vatican has done for centuries, often in the face of danger.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI defended the continuity of the church's teaching under his successor and dismissed those who criticize the pope's theological foundations.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Community of Sant'Egidio's founding, Pope Francis urged its members to continue to safeguard the poor, the elderly, the young and the excluded.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis will make a four-day trip to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in September.

The Vatican will host a fast-paced gathering of students, developers and entrepreneurs from around the world that aims to find high-tech solutions for complex global issues.

Mass isn't a paid arrangement for salvation but rather the commemoration of Christ's sacrifice of his life, given freely to all, Pope Francis said.

Christians must let go of resentments and forgive those who have wronged them so that they may experience God's forgiveness, said Pope Francis.

The fuller participation of women in decision-making in the Catholic Church is a continuing process, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said after the presentation of "A Pope Francis Lexicon."

Pope Francis has expressed strong support for the canonization of Fr. Rutilio Grande, the martyred Jesuit who is said to have inspired Blessed Oscar Romero.

Pope Francis named two longtime Vatican officials, Msgr. Alfred Xuereb and Msgr. Jose Bettencourt, as apostolic nuncios and elevated both to the rank of archbishop.

Pope Francis will visit Geneva in June, Andre Simonazzi, spokesman for the Swiss Federal Council, confirmed Feb. 28 

Priests must be mindful that the confessional is a place where people can find forgiveness and mercy, not threats and condemnation, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis' call for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in war-torn countries like South Sudan and Congo is also a reminder for world leaders to protect their countrymen from violence and injustice, a Vatican official said.