Jorge Bergoglio

Pope Francis washes foot of inmate at Casal del Marmo juvenile detention center, Rome, Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano photo. (AP Photo)

Pope washes feet of young detainees in ritual

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen inmates at a juvenile detention center in a Holy Thursday ritual that he celebrated for years as archbishop and is continuing now that he is pope. Two of the 12 were young women, an unusual choice.

2013/03/28

Pope Francis kisses a baby during his general audience, St. Peter's Square, Vatican. (AP Photo)

Pope Francis forces Argentine political about-face

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Catholic doctrine considers the pope to be God’s delegate on Earth. That alone might explain the remarkable about-face of Argentina’s populist president Cristina Fernandez and most of her followers.

2013/03/27

Pope Francis kneels in prayer in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary inside St. Mary Major Basilica, Rome, Italy, Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. (AP Photo)

New pope’s views bind simplicity with ‘complexity’

VATICAN CITY (AP) — At gatherings of Latin American bishops, then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was often a star speaker about economic inequities in a profit-driven world.

2013/03/14

Gov. Brown pleased new pope is a Jesuit

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – California Gov. Jerry Brown, who trained as a Jesuit, said Wednesday that he is pleased to see a Jesuit elected pope.

2013/03/14

From ‘the end of the earth,’ Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (AP) – From “the end of the earth,” the Catholic Church found a surprising new leader Wednesday, a pioneer pope from Argentina who took the name Francis, a pastor rather than a manager to resurrect a church and faith in crisis.

2013/03/14