Paul II

Pope Francis said at Cotroceni Palace on Friday that, despite numerous difficulties and shortcomings, Romania has taken many steps in the past 30 years in the democratic project it has committed itself to. "I am glad to be in your beautiful country, 20 years after the visit of St.

In a news conference on Tuesday aboard a papal flight from Sweden back to Rome, Pope Francis declared that the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching that women cannot be ordained as priests is likely to remain in place forever.

Pope Francis has been named the winner of the International Charlemagne Prize, awarded annually by the German city of Aachen for contributions to European unity.

The prize committee said Dec. 23 that the pontiff had sent "a message of hope and encouragement" at a time in which "many citizens in Europe are seeking orientation," news agency Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) reported.

Pope Francis has called the mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule in WW1 the 'first genocide of the 20th century."

The pontiff used the word "genocide" in a statement at the beginning of Sunday's Mass in the Armenian Catholic rite at Peter's Basilica.

The service was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.