The USA was one of the first countries to be shaken by the abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. The crimes are traumatising for those affected for the rest of their lives. They cost the church dearly.

25 years ago, Bishop Robert Barron founded the "Word on Fire" initiative. Now he is going one step further and wants to establish a new community of priests to secure the future of his organisation.

Last year, the Vatican officially recognised Marian devotion in Medjugorje. The papal representative for the pilgrimage site now reports on the changes since then – and his contact with the alleged visionaries.

Entering the Vatican without authorisation? Not a good idea. According to a new decree, this can result in heavy fines or prison sentences. Border crossings of a different kind are also regulated.

Pope Francis had already suffered a haematoma on his chin at the beginning of November after a "small fall" onto his bedside table. Now the head of the Church has fallen again and injured his arm.

In the first month after its reopening, many people have visited Notre-Dame Cathedral – more than St Peter's Basilica in Rome, according to a spokeswoman. Which countries most visitors come from.

Extra child benefit from Pope Francis: Vatican employees with three or more children can now look forward to a special monthly payment. And that's not all.

A dispute in a small central Spanish parish is making headlines across the country: The local priest refuses communion to the homosexual mayor, the bishop confirms the decision. Now the case is becoming a political issue.

Conclave" has already won one important award: a Golden Globe. Now more could follow. The thriller received the most nominations for a coveted British film award this year.

The book "Hope", billed as an autobiography of Francis, was published on Tuesday and has attracted a lot of attention. However, one expert on the Pope is disappointed by its content: Austen Ivereigh had expected more.

The author had omitted positive information about Opus Dei: The personal prelature is indignant about a book - and is countering the accusations made in it with a long "fact check".

An agreement puts an end to an escalating protest by priests of the Syro-Malabar Church. A dispute has been raging for years over a "standardised rite" for the liturgy there.