Pope

Pope Francis will have his operation under general anesthetic.

Francis did not take a position on the return of territories as a fundamental condition for peace, something on which Ukraine and many of its Western backers insist.

Francis has pleaded for peace practically on a weekly basis, and has repeatedly expressed a wish to act as a broker between Kyiv and Moscow. His offer has so far failed to produce any breakthrough.

Abuse scandals have shredded the Church's reputation and have been a major challenge for the pope.

In the past, women were allowed to attend the synods, a papal advisory body, as auditors but with no right to vote.

The daughter of a Vatican usher whose family lived in the Vatican, Orlandi, then 15, failed to return home on June 22, 1983 following a music lesson in Rome.

A carpet of 38,000 flowers donated by the Netherlands bedecked the square for the most important and joyous date in the Church's liturgical calendar.

The pope, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate earlier this month, has suffered a number of ailments in recent years.

The Pope called for women to be "protected, respected, valued, and honored."

Israel is using all possible methods to bring citizens out of Gaza and back to safety in Israel.