Pope Francis reappeared on Friday after chronic sciatic pain forced him to miss the Church's New Year services, and made no mention of his ailment as he delivered his traditional appeal for world peace.

Pope Francis reappeared on Friday after chronic sciatic pain forced him to miss the Church's New Year services, and made no mention of his ailment as he delivered his traditional appeal for world peace.

The Sydney Opera House fireworks soared into the sky, but the harbour below was empty as a ghost town, a fittingly creepy send-off for a year that will not be missed.

The Sydney Opera House fireworks soared into the sky, but the harbour below was empty as a ghost town, a fittingly creepy send-off for a year that will not be missed.

Pope Francis will not lead New Year's Eve and New Year's Day services because of a flare up of his sciatica condition, which produces pain in his right leg, the Vatican said on Thursday.

The Vatican and the Australian Catholic Church have both denied knowledge of transfers worth US$1.8 billion which Australia's financial watchdog says have been sent from Rome to Australia in the past seven years.

Argentina was on the cusp of legalizing abortion on Tuesday over the objections of its influential Roman Catholic Church, with the Senate preparing to vote on a measure backed by the ruling party that has already passed in the lower house.

Argentina was on the cusp of legalizing abortion on Tuesday over the objections of its influential Roman Catholic Church, with the Senate preparing to vote on a measure that has the backing of the ruling party and has already passed in the lower house.

Ireland's most liberal Roman Catholic prelate, the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, is to step aside having reached the normal retirement age for bishops of 75, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Ireland's most liberal Roman Catholic prelate, the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, is to step aside having reached the normal retirement age for bishops of 75, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Argentina was on the cusp of legalizing abortion on Tuesday over the objections of its influential Roman Catholic Church, with the senate preparing to vote on a measure that has the backing of the ruling party and has already passed in the lower house.

Pope Francis has issued a new decree making charity funds more transparent and tightening controls on Vatican finances after a scandal over a luxury London property deal.

Pope Francis had summoned bishops from around the world to debate how the Catholic Church can better minister to families.

Pope Francis in his Christmas message said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making Covid 19 vaccines available to all, condemning nationalism and "the virus of radical individualism".

Pope Francis in his Christmas message on Friday said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making Covid 19 vaccines available to all, condemning nationalism and "the virus of radical individualism".

Pope Francis in his Christmas message on Friday said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making Covid 19 vaccines available to all, condemning nationalism and "the virus of radical individualism".

In Christmas message, Pope Francis highlights plight of children caught in wars and pleads for COVID vaccines for all.

St. Peter's Square would usually be full to the brim on Christmas Day of people who have travelled from all over the world gathering to hear Pope Francis give his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message.

“We can’t let closed nationalisms impede us from living as the true human family that we are,” the pope said.

Pope Francis in his Christmas message on Friday said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making Covid 19 vaccines available to all, condemning nationalism and "the virus of radical individualism".

Pope Francis called in his Christmas message on Friday for nations to share Covid-19 vaccines, saying walls of nationalism could not be built to stop a pandemic that knows no borders.

Pope Francis called in his Christmas message on Friday for nations to share Covid-19 vaccines, saying walls of nationalism could not be built to stop a pandemic that knows no borders.

Pope Francis celebrated a low-key Christmas Eve Mass made sombre by the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday and said people should feel obliged to help the needy because Jesus himself was born a poor outcast.

Pope Francis promised in his Christmas messages on Thursday to visit Lebanon and South Sudan as soon as he could.

Pope Francis promised in his Christmas messages on Thursday to visit Lebanon and South Sudan as soon as he could.

Blessings to Pope Francis, leader of the Roman Catholic Church. I feel he has made great strides toward reconciliation. I feel he is an example of humility and human-centric leadership. https://t.co/9AZzOKsx28

RT @TaylorRMarshall: Pope Francis ACCUSED of 10 HERESIES, says priest https://t.co/VN5fCbWi5U

"We are accusing Pope Francis of the canonical delict of heresy. For the canonical delict of heresy to be committed, two things must occur..." Open letter to the bishops of the Catholic Church https://t.co/WMq5doXUMH

A year ago today, Pope Francis issued a formal apology in Maskwacis after praying at the Ermineskin Cemetery, close to the site of one of the largest residential schools in Canada. The Holy Father's full remarks: https://t.co/aicHGmEMXu #WalkingTogether https://t.co/3PzP9tLQ9z

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

RT @rapplerdotcom: Pope Francis has told a young transgender person that “God loves us as we are,” his latest outreach gesture towards the…

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

RT @USReality7: @TheInsiderPaper Pope Francis makes his own religion now. What a nice start up

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

i like how the pope francis anti cancel culture bit also included blaming the imf for abortion

RT @R_Nabbanja: Today, I had the privilege of meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis (@Pontifex) in Vatican, Italy where I earlier gave a k…

RT @RichRaho: Francis in new “Popecast” to transgender young person: “God loves us just as we are. The Lord always accompanies us, always.…

Magister: Vatican Diplomacy Has a Rival in the House, and Francis Is on Its Side - https://t.co/d0UTdeXilK #popefrancis #vatican

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

#NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

RT @TheInsiderPaper: NEW: Pope Francis tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'

RT @JustinWelby: I'm so pleased Pope Francis is inviting churches from around the world to the @Together2023 ecumenical prayer in Rome this…

RT @MichaelKellyIC: Did you know, the largest youth event in the world this year with be a Catholic festival? Up to a million young Catholi…

RT @Paul_R_Elie: My latest: a Daily Comment, in @NewYorker, about President Biden's encounter w Pope Francis's envoy for peace in the war i…

20s yr old Italian said theyre "torn by the dichotomy between their Catholic faith & trans identity" Pope Francis replied "the Lord always walks with us Even if we are sinners!he draws near to help us. The Lord loves us as we are, this is Gods crazy love" https://t.co/57xPkYWoe1

Benedict’s biographer slams 'authoritarian' Pope Francis for undermining Catholic Tradition - LifeSite https://t.co/qMgaFGYU04

RT @R_Nabbanja: Today, I had the privilege of meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis (@Pontifex) in Vatican, Italy where I earlier gave a k…

RT @dismasop: However you feel, just pray for peace. https://t.co/UpNYNMELBh

RT @ProtecttheFaith: Is Francis The Destroyer Pope? Prominent Catholic Leader Speaks Out @pontificatormax Jorge Bergoglio embodies the vi…

RT @jackmjenkins: 4. The nun who runs that center is Sister Norma Pimentel. She became known as Pope Francis' "favorite nun" and won Notr…

RT @RichRaho: Francis in new “Popecast” to transgender young person: “God loves us just as we are. The Lord always accompanies us, always.…

RT @DJimRussell: @jimbretzke And Pope Francis has handwritten letters of praise to a heretic censured by the Vatican and the group she co-f…

RT @JimJatras: @RadTradThomist1 @RadTradThomist @HarwickBry69871 @Jay_D007 ...and who decides who's in accord with the Ordinary & Universal…

RT @RichRaho: Francis in new “Popecast” to transgender young person: “God loves us just as we are. The Lord always accompanies us, always.…

Benedict’s biographer slams 'authoritarian' Pope Francis for undermining Catholic Tradition - LifeSite https://t.co/KLTby3PMIH

RT @cathmckenna: "I renew my appeal to world leaders to do something more concrete to limit polluting emissions. It is an urgent challenge,…

RT @EdnoralBrenda: Benedict’s biographer slams 'authoritarian' Pope Francis for undermining Catholic Tradition - LifeSite https://t.co/NOpR…

Benedict’s biographer slams 'authoritarian' Pope Francis for undermining Catholic Tradition - LifeSite https://t.co/NOpR9dlhD7

RT @RichRaho: Francis in new “Popecast” to transgender young person: “God loves us just as we are. The Lord always accompanies us, always.…

RT @NewYorker: Joe Biden’s recent meeting with Pope Francis’s special envoy suggests that, 17 months into the war, the President recognizes…

RT @Magister_Mondo: "The recent suspension of an Italian priest for writing a scholarly critique of Pope Francis’... Amoris Laetitia was a…

RT @FredSimonTLM: Is Francis The Destroyer Pope? Prominent Catholic Leader Speaks Out https://t.co/g8wecdmQnm via @YouTube