The first pope, Saint Peter, was born in the region known as present-day Israel. Around the year 97, Pope Saint Evaristus, also from the Middle East, took his place as the human head of the Church.

Taking the name Francis, after the saint who ministered to the poor, Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, has earned a reputation for living the ...

Some of Pope Francis' best moments from this year -- his second since taking office -- had serious policy implications as well. Here are some of the highlights.