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Image: Vatican Media/Catholic Press/picture allianceImage: Vatican Media/Catholic Press/picture alliance

Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Catholic pope by the papal conclave in 2013, after his predecessor, Pope Benedict, resigned. He chose his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

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Crowds cheers and wave flags at a World Youth Day event in Lisbon, Portugal

Crowds cheers and wave flags at a World Youth Day event in Lisbon, Portugal

Catholic youth brave heat to see Pope Francis in Lisbon

Officials say 1.5 million young Catholics turned out to see the pontiff at a Saturday World Youth Day vigil.

Young Catholics gathered at the World Youth Day event in Lisbon, some carrying national flags

Young Catholics gathered at the World Youth Day event in Lisbon, some carrying national flags

Accept and listen to abuse victims, pope says in Portugal

Pope Francis told clergy in Portugal a "humble and ongoing purification" was needed after the Church's abuse scandals.

Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, 07 June 2023.

Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, 07 June 2023.

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals from across the world

The latest consistory comes as Francis continues to handpick those who would choose his successor.

Pope Francis greets people on the day of his discharge from Gemelli hospital in Rome

Pope Francis greets people on the day of his discharge from Gemelli hospital in Rome

Pope Francis leaves hospital 9 days after operation

The head of the Roman Catholic Church is "better than before," a doctor said, after he underwent a hernia operation.

Pope Francis greets people as he arrives for the weekly general audience on the day he is due to undergo abdominal surgery, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

Pope Francis greets people as he arrives for the weekly general audience on the day he is due to undergo abdominal surgery, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

Pope Francis recovering well from operation: Vatican

The spiritual leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics has suffered increasing health issues in the last one year.

Front view of Rome's Gemelli hospital

Front view of Rome's Gemelli hospital

Pope Francis surgery over with 'no complications' — Vatican

The pontiff had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his large intestine removed in 2021.

Archbishop Luc Ravel during a mass

Archbishop Luc Ravel during a mass

Pope Francis accepts French archbishop's resignation

Strasbourg Archbishop Luc Ravel was accused of an authoritarian style that alienated parishioners and church officials.

The cycle party arriving in Rome

The cycle party arriving in Rome

Abuse victims meet pope after Munich to Rome bike trek

A group of abuse victims that cycled hundreds of kilometers had a meeting with Pope Francis to hand over their message.

Zelenskyy meets Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in Rome

Zelenskyy meets Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in Rome

Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy thanks Italy's Meloni in Rome

Rome is "betting on Ukraine's victory," Italian PM Giorgia Meloni said while meeting Zelenskyy. DW has the latest.

The pope waves at crowds as he arrives at the central square in Budapest

The pope waves at crowds as he arrives at the central square in Budapest

Pope Francis urges unity in final Mass in Hungary

The pope capped his trip to Hungary with a Mass in Budapest, telling thousands to fight "closed doors" of nationalism.

Rescuers carry a body as they work at the site of a heavily damaged residential building hit by a Russian missile, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Uman

Rescuers carry a body as they work at the site of a heavily damaged residential building hit by a Russian missile, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Uman

Ukraine updates: Russia fires over 20 missiles

At least 16 people were killed in strikes targeting Ukrainian cities. DW has the latest.

Pope Francis (C) is greeted by children waving flags after he arrived on April 28, 2023 at the Liszt Ferenc airport in Budapest.

Pope Francis (C) is greeted by children waving flags after he arrived on April 28, 2023 at the Liszt Ferenc airport in Budapest.

Pope Francis calls for more open Europe during Hungary visit

The pope reiterated his calls for welcoming migrants after a meeting with nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Pope Francis after the general assembly at the Vatican on April 26th 2023

Pope Francis after the general assembly at the Vatican on April 26th 2023

Pope says women will be allowed to vote in bishops' assembly

Catholic women's groups have long campaigned for the right to vote at synods.

The pope blesses worshippers from his "Popemobile"

The pope blesses worshippers from his "Popemobile"

Pope Francis prays for Russians to see 'light of Easter'

The pope prayed for "the beloved Ukrainian people" and voiced concern about tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Pope Francis celebrates Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Pope Francis celebrates Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Pope Francis to skip Good Friday procession

The pontiff is recovering from bronchitis and was released from hospital late last week.

Pope Francis celebrates the Palm Sunday's mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican

Pope Francis celebrates the Palm Sunday's mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican

Pope Francis leads Palm Sunday service after hospital stay

Despite just finishing a treatment for bronchitis, the pope has led a key mass in the run-up to Easter.

Pope Francis waving to people as he leaves hospital

Pope Francis waving to people as he leaves hospital

'I am still alive,' Pope Francis says while leaving hospital

The pope has ended his three-night stay in a Rome hospital after recovering from breathing problems.

Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Pope Francis to leave hospital in time for Easter mass

Pope Francis was hospitalized just weeks after his tenth anniversary as the head of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis is helped get up the popemobile car as he leaves on March 29, 2023 at the end of the weekly general audience at St. Peter's square in The Vatican.

Pope Francis is helped get up the popemobile car as he leaves on March 29, 2023 at the end of the weekly general audience at St. Peter's square in The Vatican.

Vatican says Pope Francis recovering well in hospital

Pope Francis's health is improving after his first night in the hospital with a respiratory infection, the Vatican says.

Pope Francis is helped get up the popemobile car as he leaves on March 29 at the end of the weekly general audience at St. Peter's square in The Vatican

Pope Francis is helped get up the popemobile car as he leaves on March 29 at the end of the weekly general audience at St. Peter's square in The Vatican

Pope Francis taken to hospital with respiratory infection

The Pope will stay at a hospital in Rome for several days of treatment. The Vatican said his infection is not COVID.

Opposition members praying in a church in Managua, Nicaragua

Opposition members praying in a church in Managua, Nicaragua

Vatican-Nicaragua relations: Strained or broken?

Media reports say diplomatic relations between Managua and the Holy See are over. But are they really?

Tourists look at a piece of the Parthenon frieze in the British Museum.

Tourists look at a piece of the Parthenon frieze in the British Museum.

No plans to give Parthenon Marbles back to Greece

PM Sunak says UK will not alter law to give Parthenon fragments to Greece. The debate over their restitution continues.

Pope Francis looks out from a balcony at the Vatican in 2013

Pope Francis looks out from a balcony at the Vatican in 2013

Approachable and opaque: 10 years of Pope Francis

Pope Francis has been head of the Catholic Church for 10 years. What has the former clergyman from Argentina achieved?

A view of emergency workers at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 9, 2023

A view of emergency workers at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 9, 2023

Ukraine updates: Kyiv decries deaths after Russian blitz

Kyiv said it shot down many Russian drones and missiles during the biggest wave of attacks in a month. DW has more.

Pope Francis surrounded by cardinals and bishops at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican

Pope Francis surrounded by cardinals and bishops at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican

Pope instructs cardinals to pay rent at the Vatican

Pope Francis says cardinals and senior Holy See officials must pay full rent for their housing in the Vatican and Rome.

People walk by a Catholic Church in Lisbon, Portugal,

People walk by a Catholic Church in Lisbon, Portugal,

Portugal: Thousands of children abused by Catholic clergy

An inquiry found members of the Portuguese Catholic Church abused nearly 5,000 children since 1950.

Children welcome Pope Francis with placards calling for reconciliation

Children welcome Pope Francis with placards calling for reconciliation

Pope wraps up Africa visit with call for peace

Tens of thousands attended Pope Francis' mass, where he instilled hope and called for peace and reconciliation.

Pope Francis takes a question from a reporter aboard the papal plane

Pope Francis takes a question from a reporter aboard the papal plane

Pope Francis defends LGBT rights, Pope Benedict aboard plane

Returning from Africa, Pope Francis took umbrage with those who used Pope Benedict XVI's death to attack the church.

Children welcome pope Francis before his meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and lay pastoral workers of South Sudan in the Cathedral of Saint Therese in Juba, South Soudan, on February 4, 2023.

Children welcome pope Francis before his meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and lay pastoral workers of South Sudan in the Cathedral of Saint Therese in Juba, South Soudan, on February 4, 2023.

Pope in South Sudan: Church cannot be 'neutral' on injustice

In the first papal visit to South Sudan, Pope Francis is highlighting the plight of women in the young nation.

Pope Francis visits South Sudan

Pope Francis visits South Sudan

AfricaLink on Air — 3 February 2023

DW's AfricaLink Special Editon: Pope Francis visits DRC, South Sudan

Pope Francis departs for South Sudan from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Pope Francis departs for South Sudan from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Pope Francis in South Sudan on 'pilgrimage for peace'

Pope Francis travels to Juba along with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the moderator of the Church of Scotland.

A crowd of people behind a fence

A crowd of people behind a fence

Pope Francis prays for peace in DR Congo

The next stop in Pope Francis' Africa trip is South Sudan.

Pope Francis sitting next to the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, in Kinshasa, January 31, 2023.

Pope Francis sitting next to the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, in Kinshasa, January 31, 2023.

Pope Francis tells the world to 'stop exploiting Africa'

Pope Francis is in Africa now. The trip takes him from Democratic Republic of Congo to South Sudan.

Vatikan | Papst Franziskus küsst südsudanesischen Politikern die Füße

Vatikan | Papst Franziskus küsst südsudanesischen Politikern die Füße

AfricaLink on Air — 02 February 2023

Pope Francis slams 'brutal atrocities' in DR Congo+++Pope celebrates Mass with more than a million people in Kinshasa

Worshipers gather at Ndolo airport for a Holy Mass with Pope Francis in Kinshasa

Worshipers gather at Ndolo airport for a Holy Mass with Pope Francis in Kinshasa

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in DR Congo

Over a milion people turned out in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital for Mass with Pope Francis.

The coffin of Cardinal George Pell lays in state at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney

The coffin of Cardinal George Pell lays in state at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney

George Pell funeral: Police ask court to ban protest

Police have sought a court order to prevent protesters from disrupting the cardinal's funeral.

Pope Francis on a wheelchair is flanked by Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, center right, as he arrives in Kinshasa

Pope Francis on a wheelchair is flanked by Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, center right, as he arrives in Kinshasa

Pope Francis denounces 'economic colonialism' in DR Congo

Francis is making the first papal visit in decades to the war-torn nation of tens of millions of Catholics.

Vatikan Papst-Reise in die Demokratische Republik Kongo

Vatikan Papst-Reise in die Demokratische Republik Kongo

AfricaLink on Air - 31 January 2023

Pope Francis lands in Kinshasa, DR Congo +++ The significance of the Pope's visit in an active war zone

Nigeria Unterstützer von Peter Obi | Präsidentschaftskandidat der Arbeiterpartei

Nigeria Unterstützer von Peter Obi | Präsidentschaftskandidat der Arbeiterpartei

AfricaLink on Air — 30 January 2023

Nigeria elections +++ Pope's DR Congo, S. Sudan visit +++ Nigerian artist Rema sets new YouTube record, report

A billboard along a busy street shows Pope Francis, as motorcyles and cars drive by

A billboard along a busy street shows Pope Francis, as motorcyles and cars drive by

Pope Francis travels to Congo with a pious wish for peace

The visit to Congo, a nation where the Catholic Church has long played a dominant role, will be the first in 37 years.

Vatikan | Papst Franziskus

Vatikan | Papst Franziskus

AfricaLink on Air — 26 January 2023

DW's AfricaLink Special Edition on Sexuality in Africa

Italian Cardinal Battista Re speaks at George Pell's funeral; he is wearing a red robe and skullcap

Italian Cardinal Battista Re speaks at George Pell's funeral; he is wearing a red robe and skullcap

Vatican holds funeral for Cardinal Pell

The Australian-born cardinal died at age 81. He was imprisoned in 2019, a conviction which was later overturned.

Over a hundred exiled Iranians demonstrate against the Iranian regime in the German city of Cologne in January 11, 2020.

Over a hundred exiled Iranians demonstrate against the Iranian regime in the German city of Cologne in January 11, 2020.

Iran sentences 3 more to death in connection with protests

The latest death sentences come days after Iran executed two over events relataed to ongoing protests in the country.

The coffin of former Pope Benedict is carried during his funeral, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, January 5, 2023.

The coffin of former Pope Benedict is carried during his funeral, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, January 5, 2023.

Pope Benedict XVI honored at St. Peter's Square funeral

For the first time in centuries, a sitting pontiff is presiding over his predecessor's funeral.

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican: Health of former Pope Benedict is 'worsening'

Pope Francis has asked for prayers for his predecessor, who was the first pontiff to resign in several centuries.

Pope Francis waves as he delivers his traditional Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi message

Pope Francis waves as he delivers his traditional Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi message

Christmas: Pope Francis offers prayers for Ukraine

The head of the Catholic Church addressed the war in Ukraine as part of his traditional address.

Photos from the Ulma Family Museum in Markowa, Poland

Photos from the Ulma Family Museum in Markowa, Poland

Pope honors Poles killed for hiding Jews during World War II

Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma offered Jewish people refuge from the Nazis in German-occupied Poland before being killed.

One of the three fragments of Parthenon Sculptures housed by the Vatican Museum that Pope Francis decided to return to Athens

One of the three fragments of Parthenon Sculptures housed by the Vatican Museum that Pope Francis decided to return to Athens

Pope orders return of Parthenon sculptures to Greece

After more than 200 years at the Vatican Museum, fragments of Athens' Parthenon temple may soon return home to Greece.

Reflection of the dome of St. Peter's near St. Peter's Square in Rome

Reflection of the dome of St. Peter's near St. Peter's Square in Rome

German homeless man dies at St. Peter's Square

The German-born man passed away near St. Peter's Square following several nights "of cold and rain," the Vatican said.

Pope Francis speaks to journalist on flight

Pope Francis speaks to journalist on flight

Pope criticizes German Catholic reform movement

Pope Francis said that he didn't want "another" Protestant Church in Germany, speaking out against proposed reforms.