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Marie Collins (2nd from right), who served as a memer of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, watches as Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley (right) speaks during their briefing at the Holy See’s press office at the Vatican in Rome on May 3,

The Vatican is ‘all words, no action’ on addressing child sex abuse

Justice

Marie Collins was sexually abused as a child by a Catholic priest in Ireland. In 2014, she joined the Vatican’s commission for the protection of minors, hoping to help make changes. Now, she has resigned in frustration.

Pope Francis

How his embrace of a disabled boy came to define Pope Francis

Belief
Bernard Law 2

The pope promises accountability to victims abused by the church. Where is Cardinal Law?

Belief
The annual procession of Our Lady of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba in Havana.

How the Pope lent Washington and Havana a helping hand

Global Politics
A bishop takes a picture with a tablet during the Synod on the Family. The Roman Catholic assembly has softened its traditional Catholic stance against gays, suggesting "accepting and valuing their sexual orientation."

The Catholic Church changed only its tone on gays, but that’s still a big deal

Belief
Visitors to the Vatican often overlook the historical significance of the building's floors, which are frequently made from re-purposed bits of ancient history.

You’d better watch where you walk the next time you visit the Vatican

Culture

The Vatican is dense with art and history — every arch, piece of art and ceiling has a story to tell. But so do the floors, which are easy to miss. Whether paved with marble from the Coliseum or sporting mosaics from ancient villas, the floors of the Vatican have much to tell.

Pope Francis speaks outside the Castelpetroso sanctuary near Isernia in southern Italy on July 5, 2014. During the speech, he told students that environmental damage was a sin.

Why Pope Francis is ‘throwing down a gauntlet’ on environmental destruction

Lifestyle & Belief

Pope Francis has already called attention to poverty and inequality, and he’s now calling Catholics to pay more notice to the environment. In doing so, he could change not only policy but the way that people view sin and responsibility.Pope Francis has already called attention to poverty and inequality, and he’s now calling Catholics to pay more notice to the environment. In doing so, he could change not only policy but the way that people view sin and responsibility.

Pope Francis and President Barack Obama enjoying each other's company during their meeting Thursday in the Vatican.

Obama’s visit to the pope was about more than just politics

Lifestyle & Belief

President Barack Obama met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday. Both sides described the meeting as cordial, and Obama professed himself a “great admirer” of the new pontiff. Despite the bonhomie, there are issues that divide the two men. President Barack Obama met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday. Both sides described the meeting as cordial, and Obama professed himself a “great admirer” of the new pontiff. Despite the bonhomie, there are issues that divide the two men.

New citizens are naturalized during a ceremony in Oakland, California, on August 13, 2013.

Could you pass the test? International citizenship tests are often more interested in cultural quirks than national knowledge

Global Politics

At some level, all countries push new citizens to integrate and that’s where civics and language citizenship tests come in. But when you take a longer look at how citizenship exams are developed worldwide, you realize they can have less to do with methodology than promoting a strict cultural identity.

Catholic Church unveils Pope Francis as next leader

Lifestyle & Belief

The 115 cardinals of the Catholic Church on Wednesday, after a full day of conclave, chose Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as its next spiritual leader, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church. Bergoglio, who took the name Pope Francis, is an Argentinian and was not among the favorites to ascend to the chair of St. Peter.