Pope Francis appoints 20 new Cardinals

His Holiness, Pope Francis, announced the appointment of twenty new cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, with an apparent effort to diversify the top leadership in the Church. The cardinals were selected from 18 countries. Making the announcement in his Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, Francis said the appointment demonstrates how the Church of Rome and the particular churches across the world are connected by “indissoluble links.”

Pope Francis delivers Christmas Message, condemns violence in the world

Pope Francis has delivered his Christmas Message 'Urbi et Orbi' for the year 2014 condemning the “brutal persecution” carried out by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group. According to the Pontiff, the joy of Christmas was marred by the suffering of children in the Middle East and around the world.

Celebration as Pope Francis clocks 78

Pope Francis marked his 78th birthday today as thousands gathered to felicitate with the Roman Catholic Pontiff at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. They sang happy birthday in Italian, Spanish and other languages and danced to tango music— which the pontiff previously admitted to liking.

A historic diplomatic breakthrough between Cuba and the United States was later announced and it was disclosed that the Argentine pope played a key role as broker.

Pope Francis auctions his motorbike

The Harley-Davidson motorcycle given to Pope Francis' last June as a gift to mark the company's 110th anniversary has been auctioned and sold for £200,200 - more than fifteen times the estimate of up to £12,500. A Harley leather jacket given to him with the motorbike also sold for £47,700, taking the grand total to around £250,000.