Pope Benedict XVI

Francis pays tribute to Benedict, reflects on age

66 days ago

"Francis has said he wants to visit Benedict at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo where he has been living since Feb. 28, when he became the first pope in 600 years to resign.

Black smoke from Sistine Chapel: No pope yet

69 days ago

The conclave was called after Pope Benedict XVI resigned last month, throwing the church into turmoil and exposing deep divisions among cardinals tasked with finding a manager to clean up a...

Top contenders to be the next pope

71 days ago

Cardinals from around the world gather this week in a conclave to elect a new pope following the stunning resignation of Benedict XVI.

Sri Lanka cardinal hews to tradition in papal race

74 days ago

In one of his first appointments as pope, Benedict XVI picked a Sri Lankan archbishop to return to the Vatican for a top post overseeing the church's liturgy and rites.

Attorneys may test Benedict XVI's immunity in priest sex abuse cases

76 days ago

Attorneys who have tried unsuccessfully for years to sue the Vatican over failures to stop clergy sex abuse are looking into whether former Pope Benedict XVI is more legally vulnerable in...

Victims raise legal questions about retired pope

76 days ago

Attorneys who have tried unsuccessfully for years to sue the Vatican over failures to stop clergy sex abuse are looking into whether former Pope Benedict XVI is more legally vulnerable in...

Cardinals go to Rome early to discuss problems

78 days ago

Cardinals from around the world have descended on Rome to discuss some of the major problems facing the Catholic Church ahead of the conclave to elect Benedict XVI's successor as pope.

Retired cardinal admits misconduct with priests

78 days ago

Last Monday, outgoing Pope Benedict XVI effectively forced O'Brien's early retirement a day after a British newspaper published accounts by four men -- one former priest and three current priests...

Catholics ponder future with new pope

78 days ago

Faithful attending Sunday Mass on five continents for the first time since Pope Benedict XVI's retirement had different ideas about who should next lead the Roman Catholic Church, with people...

Cardinals get down to work in pre-conclave talks

78 days ago

Cardinals from around the globe have descended on Rome for meetings ahead of the election of a pope to succeed the recently retired Benedict XVI.

In Manila, Catholics pray for smooth succession

79 days ago

Filipinos in Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation on Sunday went to church that awkwardly had no pope for the first time in 600 years and prayed for the smooth rise of a successor to...

Vatican transition begins

80 days ago

The Catholic Church awoke Friday with no leader following the resignation of Benedict XVI, who pledged obedience to his successor and described himself as "simply a pilgrim" starting the final...

Pope's first hours as retiree: Prayer, TV, books

80 days ago

The Vatican says Benedict XVI has spent his first few hours as a retiree praying, watching TV and taking walks.

Cardinal Ravasi: Intellectual who quotes Winehouse

81 days ago

Tauran also said the next pope "must continue what Benedict XVI did -teach the contents of faith.

Vatican plays down Australian cardinal comments

81 days ago

The Vatican is playing down an Australian cardinal's comments that Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign was "slightly destabilizing," saying cardinals are not media savvy.

THE PONTIFF'S CAPE

81 days ago

Pope Benedict XVI, his dress soon to be limited to a simple white robe, has worn a ceremonial red cape for his final meeting with the College of Cardinals.

POPE LIVE: Ready for departure, final meetings

82 days ago

"Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world.

Opinion: If she can't be pope, she wants the 'Idol' judges to vote on successor

82 days ago

Fortunately, there are already more than a half-dozen serious contenders for the job, which Pope Benedict XVI vacated at the end of last month, having given two weeks' notice.

Pope legacy: Teacher who returned to church roots

82 days ago

It was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, his boss, who under the Vatican's arcane rules had technically lost his job when John Paul died.

Close encounters with the popes over 3 decades

84 days ago

The Middle East Airlines jetliner had barely taken off from Beirut when I was escorted down the aisle to the first-class section and seated beside Pope Benedict XVI.

Catholic leader in Scotland faces accusations

85 days ago

On the same day as his last public blessing Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI confronted the threat of a fresh scandal within the church hierarchy, with Vatican officials informing him of new allegations...

Pope's last blessing from window drawing crowd

86 days ago

The last chance for a Sunday blessing from Pope Benedict XVI from his studio window is drawing a crowd to St. Peter's Square.

Vatican feuds, fiefdoms, betrayals await next pope

88 days ago

If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI's private papers is Exhibit A.

Pope considers new conclave rules, date uncertain

89 days ago

The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI may change the rules governing the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope amid continued uncertainty over when the voting can begin.