He didn't name names, but Pope Francis has condemned the political use of fear and the building of walls.

Eltham teddy bear involved in international kidnapping case. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Parliament has been told that its debate on assisted dying could encourage suicides.

The Catholic Church in New Zealand will follow guidelines from the Vatican banning the scattering of ashes.

Strict new Vatican guidelines forbid a list of increasingly popular means of commemorating loved ones.

The Vatican is struggling to cope with a massive rise in demand for exorcists by Italians who are finding themselves increasingly menaced by demons.

Dame Lowell Goddard, who quit as head of the massive UK public inquiry into child abuse after just 18 months, had been on a salary package worth almost $870,000.

Boys as young as 6 were told to "stop making up stories" when they complained about priest's sick abuse.

One of the Isis knifemen who stormed a church in Normandy before slitting the throat of an elderly priest has been named as known terror threat.

SUVs with men-in-suits-and-dark-glasses standing in their open doors, a truck full of police with machine gun carrying men in fatigues inside, and then finally more men in suits running ahead of the Popemobile, writes Richard McLachlan.

The leaders of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches will put on a united front, asking the Prime Minister to increase the number of refugees New Zealand lets in.

One of the world's oldest religions is facing extinction, and will be fighting for its survival in Auckland later this year. Plus, how religious is your suburb? Use our interactive.

The future of Hato Petera College is under threat from a falling roll, dilapidated buildings, bullying, infighting and a lack of confidence from its owner.

The freedom to pop out for a pizza is the main thing Pope Francis misses two years after being elected the head of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

A New Zealander who advises Pope Francis on combating sexual abuse has criticised the pontiff's support of smacking children.

Pope Francis encouraged mums at a baptism ceremony at the Sistine Chapel to continue feeding their children.

A samba school has honoured Pope Francis during the opening of a hugely popular carnival in Argentina.

The Pope has named 15 new cardinals from Africa, Latin America and Asia to reflect a change in church demographics - and among them is NZ's John Dew.

The dangers of working too hard and succumbing to gossip can be found in every office - including the administrative body of the Roman Catholic Church.

The cardinals who elected Pope Francis 18 months ago had no inkling that he would turn out to be such a "rock star" pontiff, two "princes of the church" have said.

A Catholic priest has been arrested in Italy on suspicion of dealing drugs at a party.

A waiter, whose adoptive parents are peasants, claims to be the son of former Spanish king Juan Carlos and has launched a paternity suit.

A former priest who moved to Australia where he married twice without first divorcing his New Zealand wife has been found guilty of bigamy.

The Irish government is launching a full-scale investigation into controversial Catholic homes for unmarried mothers, following revelations that up to 800 infants died in one such institution over a 35-year period.

It was a total Pope-fest. Two living pontiffs - the incumbent and his immediate predecessor - presided at the canonisation of two deceased vicars of Christ.

You don't have to be all that saintly to be a saint, as even Catholic clerics attest. But then, canonisation has long been more about politics than purity.