Pope Francis said Latin America had to address the "plague" of femicide, as well as drug and gang violence. He also slammed anti-migration rhetoric built on "fears and suspicions."

Pope Francis celebrated his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" with a message of concern about violence and conflict in the world. He urged people to overcome their differences.

Pope Francis has reminded Christians that their messiah was born in poverty and said they should focus on love and charity instead of "consumerism." The event in St. Peter's Basilica was attended by 10,000 people.

Pope Francis vowed on Saturday to end the sexual exploitation of children by clergy during a highly-charged visit to once deeply Catholic Ireland and, according to victims, said the corruption and cover up of abuse amounted to human excrement.

Pope Francis condemned an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria as an unjustifiable use of "instruments of extermination"

Pope Francis on Wednesday told members of the Mafia in Italy, where many go to church and worship openly, that they cannot call themselves Christians because they "carry death in their souls."

Pope Francis, visiting an area of Peru that was devastated last year by heavy rains linked to climate change and plagued by gang violence, urges people not to lose hope.

Pope Francis landed in Peru on Friday after a visit to Chile that has left many Catholics there confused and angry. At issue is the pontiff's answer to a question about a bishop accused in the country's child sex abuse scandal.

Vandals in Santiago attacked four churches before dawn on Friday, just three days ahead of the Pope Francis's visit to Chile, police said.

As South America awaits another visit by Pope Francis, a women's prison in Chile is preparing for a reception with the papacy.

Pope Francis baptized 33 infants in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday and told the mothers to feel free to breastfeed them if they cried or were hungry.

The head of the Catholic church lead followers in the feast of Epiphany which marks the end of the Christmas season.