Lebanon is still reeling from a huge chemical explosion at the Beirut port last year that killed 200 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage, further weakening an economy already facing meltdown

Pope Francis waves before leaving after the weekly general audience, in San Damaso courtyard, at the Vatican, May 19, 2021.

Pope to hold crisis summit with Lebanon Christian heads

The phone call between Erdogan and the pontiff came as Turkey presses ahead with a furious diplomatic push to help end bloodshed that has claimed the lives of 197 Palestinians and 10 people in Israel since May 10

Erdogan urges pope to help end Israel's 'massacre'

Numerous people have been injured, and many innocents have died. Among them there are also children, and this is terrible and unacceptable, the 84-year-old pontiff said

Pope warns of 'spiral of death' in Middle East clashes

The pope abandoned his Wednesday public audiences when coronavirus swept across Italy early last year, instead delivering them via video link from the Apostolic Library

The courtyard was not full Wednesday, but the 300 or so people who came expressed their joy at seeing the pope up close

Pope's joy as he resumes audience with public

In a message to the Catholic Bishops' Conference in India, the pontiff offered his "heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people"

Pope Francis: My thoughts go above all to the sick and their families, to those who care for them, and in particular to those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones

Pope hails 'tireless' work of India medics

He expressed his "closeness to the Lebanese people, who are experiencing a moment of great difficulty and uncertainty" and called upon "all political forces to urgently commit themselves to the benefit of the nation"

84-year-old pontiff said he would like to visit Lebanon "as soon as the conditions are favourable"

Pope tells Hariri of hopes of visiting Lebanon

Francis, who has been vaccinated, as has former Pope Benedict, 93, has said getting a jab is the ethnical choice unless there are serious medical reasons not to

Pope Francis poses for a photograph on Good Friday at a vaccination centre in the Paul VI Hall where the poor and homeless are being inoculated, at the Vatican, April 2, 2021.

Pope makes surprise visit to homeless getting COVID-19 vaccine

Programmed pay rises will be suspended until March 2023.

Pope Francis leads Angelus prayer at the library of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican March 21, 2021.

Pope orders salary cuts for cardinals, clerics, to save jobs of employees

The image of sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng begging a group of police earlier this month to spare "the children" and take her life instead, went viral as a potent symbol of bravery amid mass protests against the military coup

Pope Francis: I too extend my arms and say, 'let dialogue prevail. Blood resolves nothing.'

Pope evokes Myanmar nun in pleading for peace

In some countries, such as the United States and Germany, parishes and ministers have begun blessing same-sex unions in lieu of marriage

From the time he was archbishop in his native Argentina, Pope Francis has supported the right of gay couples to have civil legal protections but has always opposed gay marriage

In setback for gay Catholics, Vatican says church cannot bless same-sex unions

In mid-March, 2011, peaceful pro-democracy protests developed into a multi-sided conflict that sucked in world powers, killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more

Pope Francis gives a news conference aboard the papal plane on his flight back after visiting Iraq, March 8, 2021.

Pope says 10th anniversary of Syrian civil war must spur peace efforts

In his weekly audience, the 84-year-old pope reflected on the packed three-day programme

Pope Francis: The Iraqi people have the right to live in peace

Pope thanks Iraqis for visit, saying they deserve peace

The 84-year-old pontiff's packed three-day visit passed off without a hitch despite concerns about security and the coronavirus pandemic

Biden, only the second Roman Catholic US president, has dramatically raised the Church's profile in the United States with his regular Sunday attendance at Mass and habit of quoting Biblical and other sacred verses

Biden salutes Pope's 'historic' visit to Iraq

The 84-year-old pontiff covered more than 1,400 kilometres inside the country, bringing encouragement to its diminished Christian community and extending a hand to Shiite Muslims by meeting top cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani

Iraq's President Barham Saleh (C-R) and his wife Sarbagh (C-L) escort Pope Francis (C) during the farewell ceremony for the pontiff at the Iraqi capital's Baghdad International Airport on March 8, 2021.

Pope Francis departs Iraq after historic visit

He will say Mass at a Baghdad church, meet Iraq’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric in the southern city of Najaf and travel north to Mosul, where the army had to empty the streets for security reasons last year for a visit by Iraq’s prime minister

Pope Francis boards the plane for his visit to Iraq, at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, March 5, 2021.

Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad for risky, historic Iraq tour

The pope, making his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic swept Europe a year ago, will arrive in Iraq on Friday before embarking on a packed schedule of events through to Sunday

Francis is fulfilling the dream of a predecessor, John Paul II, by visiting Iraq

Pope to hold crisis summit with Lebanon Christian heads

Erdogan urges pope to help end Israel's 'massacre'

Pope warns of 'spiral of death' in Middle East clashes

Pope's joy as he resumes audience with public

Pope hails 'tireless' work of India medics

Pope tells Hariri of hopes of visiting Lebanon

Pope makes surprise visit to homeless getting COVID-19 vaccine

Pope orders salary cuts for cardinals, clerics, to save jobs of employees

Pope evokes Myanmar nun in pleading for peace

In setback for gay Catholics, Vatican says church cannot bless same-sex unions

Pope says 10th anniversary of Syrian civil war must spur peace efforts

Pope thanks Iraqis for visit, saying they deserve peace

Biden salutes Pope's 'historic' visit to Iraq

Pope Francis departs Iraq after historic visit

Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad for risky, historic Iraq tour

Pope says he will visit Iraq as 'pilgrim of peace'

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Pope to hold crisis summit with Lebanon Christian heads

Erdogan urges pope to help end Israel's 'massacre'

Pope warns of 'spiral of death' in Middle East clashes

Pope's joy as he resumes audience with public

Pope hails 'tireless' work of India medics

Pope tells Hariri of hopes of visiting Lebanon

Pope makes surprise visit to homeless getting COVID-19 vaccine

Pope orders salary cuts for cardinals, clerics, to save jobs of employees

Pope evokes Myanmar nun in pleading for peace

In setback for gay Catholics, Vatican says church cannot bless same-sex unions

Pope says 10th anniversary of Syrian civil war must spur peace efforts

Pope thanks Iraqis for visit, saying they deserve peace

Biden salutes Pope's 'historic' visit to Iraq

Pope Francis departs Iraq after historic visit

Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad for risky, historic Iraq tour

Pope says he will visit Iraq as 'pilgrim of peace'