Angelo Scola

* Pope urges clergy to live simple lives among the poor * "Theoretical poverty" among clergy harms Church By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, May 8 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Wednesday that clergy who were "careerists" or "social climbers" were...

VATICAN CITY — In their private meetings before electing the new pope, Roman Catholic cardinals took note when one of their members rose to speak — clearly, quietly and persuasively — about the need to purify the church and streamline...

— Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, a surprise choice that underscored the changing nature of Catholicism and the deep challenges facing the church. Bergoglio, 76, chose the papal name...

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals elected a new pope to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics on Wednesday, overcoming deep divisions to select the 266th pontiff in a remarkably fast conclave. Tens of thousands of people who braved cold rain to watch...

Black smoke is once again pouring out of the chimney from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, signaling Roman Catholic cardinals still haven't chosen the next pope. The 115 cardinal electors entered the conclave Tuesday afternoon and cast their first ballots....

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals remained divided over who should be pope on Wednesday after three rounds of voting, an indication of disagreements about the direction of the Catholic church following the upheaval unleashed by Pope Benedict XVI's...

As their church's cardinals gathered in Vatican City to select a new pope, Catholic schoolchildren in the Baltimore area joined the worldwide buzz over the secret balloting process in an online chat with a fairly well-placed source: Archbishop William E....

VATICAN CITY -- As possible front-runners emerged ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope, Roman Catholic cardinals Monday wrapped up a week of discussion on issues facing the church, with some pushing unsuccessfully to extend their talks before the...

— Many of the 115 cardinal electors to be sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday didn't know each other when they headed for Rome last month. In fact, Chicago's Cardinal Francis George said he knew only a third of his fellow prelates,...

ROME -- They asked for prayers of support, quipped with adoring parishioners and kissed squirming babies. On the eve of what may be the most important decision of their lives, Roman Catholic cardinals who will choose the next pope made their likely last...

Roman Catholic cardinals will set a date for the conclave to select a new pope once they feel confident they can narrow the field of candidates and get a clearer idea of who the next pope could be, Cardinal Francis George said Tuesday. In the meantime,...

Chicago's Cardinal Francis George praised the media last week for generating a short list of promising contenders for the chair of St. Peter. But credit actually should go to the bookmakers and the gambling public. Irish bookmaker Paddy Power opened bets...