For the first time in New Zealand history, the Governor General met with Pope Francis. During the private audience with Sir Jerry Mateparae the two men spoke of social and economic life in New Zealand as well as the Catholic…

President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, along with his wife and several members of his government, met with Pope Francis in Rome. During the 20 minute meeting, the two men discussed the “good relations between the Holy See and…

The Republic of China, or Taiwan “maintains a friendly, close relationship” with its only diplomatic ally in Europe, the Holy See, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Based on the solid relationship we will continue to enhance our ties with…

Issa Kassissieh, the ambassador of Palestine to the Holy See wrote a letter to the pope recently.  “From the Holy Land of Palestine, I am pleased to deliver sentiments of love and admiration from the Palestinian people towards a loving…

Pope Francis received her majesty Queen Elizabeth for an official “tea” at the Vatican recently where the two exchanged casual conversation and gifts. The 17-minute meeting was the fifth encounter the 87-year-old monarch has had with a pope. Her first…

Pope Francis granted an audience to Karolos Papoulias, the President of Greece. They discussed the legal status of religious communities and the role of religion in society and ecumenical collaboration within the Orthodox nation. They also discussed the economic crisis,…

In spite of vexing differences between the U.S. President and the Catholic Church, the president and the pope met at the Apostolic Palace in Rome on March 27. The cordial meeting discussed international conflict, human rights and religious freedom. The…

House Speaker John Boehner, a Jesuit-trained Roman Catholic, invited Jesuit Pope Francis to speak before a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress. Boehner sent a one-page letter to the pope on the first anniversary of his election to the pontificate. …

Patriarch Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is head of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, will meet with Pope Francis in May in Jerusalem. He said he looks forward to the meeting “with expectant joy and an abiding sense…

The United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II, who is also the head of the Church of England, will meet with Pope Francis on April 2. As usual with dignitaries, the queen will visit the Vatican during a visit to Italy. It…

During a speech on income inequality, U.S. President Obama referenced Pope Francis, one of the hottest public names.  “Across the developed world, inequality has increased,” Obama said. “Some of you may have seen just last week, the pope himself spoke…

In line with his papal predecessors, Pope Francis criticized the global financial system and called for it to change saying that the rich, must help the poor. The Pope said the way the current financial system works needs change because…