Pope Francis on Wednesday denounced the “scourge” of child labor and other abuses suffered by children, saying anyone who harms or exploits a child will have to answer to God. Francis dedicated his first catechism lesson of 2025 to the plight of children,

Pope Francis on Wednesday enjoyed a performance by members of an African-themed circus troupe called CircAfrica. The group brought acrobats, robot-operated elephants, jugglers and dancers on roller skates to perform for the pope in the Vatican auditorium.

Putting a spotlight on the 'scourge of child labor,' the Holy Father lamented that there are 'too many children forced to work' who are unable to smile, dream, or nurture their talents.

Today we know how to turn our eyes toward Mars or virtual worlds, but we struggle to look into the eyes of a child who has been left on the margins and is being exploited and abused,” the pope said at his general audience Jan.

Pope Francis’s appointment of Cardinal Robert McElroy as the highly visible prelate of the church in Washington is already being interpreted as a shot across the bow of the Trump administration, given the new archbishop’s outspoken views on immigrants’ rights.

Cardinal Robert McElroy has supported migrants and said the church should be more inclusive to women and LGBT people.

Let us not be afraid to throw open bright windows of closeness to those who are suffering, of forgiveness, of compassion, and reconciliation,” Pope Francis said from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Jan.

Cardinal Walter McElroy of San Diego is named by Pope Francis to replace the retiring Cardinal Wilton Gregory leading the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.

That the Star of Bethlehem indicates a direction is also a helpful point of reflection during the Jubilee Year 2025, the Pope said.

From Pope Francis' sassy selection of a new Archbishop of Washington, D.C. (a frequent critic of president-elect Donald Trump) to Nikki Glaser’s star-turn singing the Conclave-Wicked crossover “Pope-ular” at the Golden Globes,

Pope Francis’ decision to appoint a liberal cardinal to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. was reportedly done in response to