Pope Francis is a leader who leads by example and not only by words. Simplicity and concern for the poor are two distinctive marks of a good leader. Gandhiji is a clear example. Pope Francis too tries to lead a simple life.

Pope Francis called for respect for rights and justice in a keenly-watched address in Myanmar yesterday, but refrained from any mention of the Rohingya or the alleged ethnic cleansing that has driven huge numbers of the Muslim minority from the country.

Pope Francis urges the leaders of majority-Buddhist Myanmar to commit themselves to justice, human rights and respect for "each ethnic group and its identity", while avoiding a diplomatic backlash by not using the highly charged term "Rohingya" in his addresses to officials, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Pope Francis faces a diplomatic test as he began his visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh, countries that attracted global attention following the Rohingya refugee crisis stemming from atrocities committed by Myanmar's army since late August.

Pope Francis lands in Myanmar on a mission to dampen a powder keg of religious tension that many fear might only add sparks.

Pope Francis appreciates Bangladesh's inter-religious harmony and cultural diversity, which he will celebrate during his visit here next week, Catholic Church officials said yesterday.

Luxury sports car maker Lamborghini presents Pope Francis with a brand-new, special edition Huracan that is to be auctioned off with the proceeds donated to charity.

Ireland announced it will hold a referendum next year on whether to repeal its constitutional ban on abortion in almost all cases -- just a few weeks before Pope Francis visits.

Pope Francis has voiced concern over the persecution of Rohingyas in Myanmar.He had, on several occasions, slammed the violence inflicted on this minority community. We appreciate the Pope's unequivocal remarks on the matter which is in contrast with the somewhat muted response of the international community, by and large, so far.

Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church will visit Bangladesh in this November.

Pope Francis has dismissed the church's chief of doctrine, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller -- one of the most powerful cardinals at the Vatican -- and appointed a Spanish archbishop to the role, the Vatican said Saturday.

Pope Francis urges US President Donald Trump to be a peacemaker at their highly anticipated first meeting today, and Trump promises he will not forget the pontiff's message.

Pope Francis criticises the naming of the US military's biggest non-nuclear explosive as "the Mother of All Bombs", saying the word "mother" should not be used in reference to a deadly weapon.

Pope Francis proclaims Mother Teresa a saint, hailing her work with the destitute of Kolkata as a beacon for mankind and testimony of God's compassion for the poor.

Pope Francis has said that the Roman Catholic Church should apologise to gay people for the way it has treated them.

Pope Francis approves measures to sack bishops who mishandle child sexual abuse cases, a papal decree says.

Pope Francis has met the grand imam of Cairo's al-Azhar mosque after a five-year pause in dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the mosque, the highest authority of Sunni Islam.

Armed with such assessments, donor countries must structure assistance in a way that mitigates corruption risks. Military or development assistance is not apolitical. Programmes must be tailored to ensure that funds are not captured by kleptocratic elites. This means that anti-corruption efforts can no longer be shunted off to under-resourced specialists; they must be central to the planning of major development initiatives or the sale of costly weapons systems. Recipient governments must understand that funding will dry up if they continue to squander or steal it.

Pope Francis has taken 12 Syrian migrants back with him to the Vatican after visiting a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Pope Francis preaches an Easter message of hope after a grim week in Europe, calling on Christians not to let fear and pessimism "imprison" them.