Francis has weighed in publicly before on ethics for end-of-life medical situations, but it is unknown whether he has made known his own wishes should he face such a crossroads.

For nearly two millennia, the papacy has shaped world history, standing at the intersection of faith, politics, and power. From its humble beginnings with St. Peter to its modern incarnation as a global spiritual authority,

Discover the longest serving popes in history, whose enduring legacy continues to shape the Church long after their tenure has ended.

Pope Francis has come down with a serious illness that could potentially force him to resign, but who would succeed him?

Gandhi’s Scant Garb Bars Audience with Pope.” So read the headline of a New York Times report, from December 13, 1931, that the Vatican had cancelled a meeting between Pius XI and “the Indian nationalist leader” because the Pope thought he might be criticized “if he received the visitor in his usual scanty clothing.

COMMENTARY: However, vigils for popes, like the current one for Pope Francis, have been the exception, not the rule.

Over the past century, Catholic leaders have wrestled with how much to embrace new forms of communication technology.

Image caption, The late Pope John Paul II, pictured ... which is a Catholic teaching hospital, opened in the 1960s. With more than 1500 beds, it is one of the biggest private hospitals in Europe. Built on land donated by Pope Pius XI to the theologian ...

In light of his current health struggles, it may be an opportune time for Pope Francis to clarify his position on Israel, offering a public statement affirming the biblical truth: that God gave Israel to the Jewish people as an eternal inheritance.