Since the days of Roman persecution of Christians, when martyrs were praised for their enduring faith, Christians have continued to turn to saints for inspiration in difficult times. The recent ...

Who was the very first pope? How many popes have there been? Has anyone ever refused the office? For an institution that has existed for nearly 2,000 years, most people know very little about the ...

Popes choose their names carefully. When Jorge Bergoglio took the name “Francis” — a name no pope had used before, associated with a popular saint known for his concern for the poor and outcast — he ...