Pope Francis
The former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio succeeded Pope Benedict XVI following his retirement in early 2013. Pope Francis represents many firsts for the Catholic Church, including the first pope from the Americas, the first from the Jesuit tradition, and the first to take the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi.
Featured Articles

Bergoglio expected to focus on poverty and set a friendlier tone in Protestant-Catholic relations.
Ruth Moon|
- Evangelicals Endorse Unprecedented Ecumenical Plea for the EnvironmentAhead of a UN climate summit, Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican leaders jointly promote a “Season of Creation.”Jayson Casper|简体中文繁體中文
- Evangelicals Ask Pope Francis to Help Save LebanonVisiting the Vatican for a Christian summit, leaders explain why the problems of sectarian politics have become unbearable.Jayson Casper|
- Beat, Pray, Give: Catholics Want More Done for Persecuted ChristiansSurvey finds surge in US concern for the global church in need, in run-up to Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq.Jayson Casper|
- At Mosul Church, Pope Asks Iraq’s Christians to Forgive ISIS and RebuildFrancis’ personal visit to damaged churches in Nineveh Plains caps historic trip.Nicole Winfield and Samya Kullab - The Associated Press|
- Pope Francis Secures Favorable Fatwa for Iraq’s ChristiansA short history of Shiite Islam explains why the pope made peace with Grand Ayatollah Sistani, yet Iranian rival and Sunni extremists don’t accept Muslim leader’s authority.Jayson Casper|
- Iraq’s Evangelicals Use Pope Francis’s Visit to Press for EqualityHistoric papal trip seeks peace between Christians and Muslims. Unregistered evangelicals say peace between Iraq’s Christians is needed first.Jayson Casper|
- Why Christians Who Speak Jesus’ Language Can’t Agree on Their NameIt took Aramaic speakers 1,500 years to agree on Christology, now their main debate is over Assyrian identity. Could Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq encourage unity?Emil Anton|
- Iraq’s Struggling Christians Hope for Boost from Pope Francis VisitLandmark trip will include Qaraqosh, where most families fled ISIS yet some are now trying to restore the Christian heartland of the Nineveh Plains.Mariam Fam - The Associated Press|
- Word or Deeds: Shiite Firebrand Pledges to Restore Iraqi Christian PropertyChristians welcome the “solidarity” of controversial anti-American politician and militia leader in advance of expected visit by Pope Francis.Jayson Casper|
- Christmas Unites a Divided IraqParliament’s unanimous vote to make Jesus’ birth an annual holiday succeeds where other national holidays have failed.Jayson Casper|
