Pope Francis officially began his ministry as the 266th pope -- and as the first from South America -- on Tuesday in an installation Mass simplified to suit his style.

Pope Francis has been doing things that herald great promise not only for Catholics, but for the work of inter-religious relations in particular, and for the role of faith in the world as whole.  

Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the newly minted Pope Francis -- bowed his head in submission, and the full-throated throng that seconds before had been shouting "Viva Il Papa," fell silent, humbled, per...

 Latin Americans reacted with joy, bursting into tears and cheers on Wednesday at news that an Argentine cardinal has become the first pope from the hemisphere.

 Faith leaders trumpeted the selection of the first pope from Latin America, saying the historic move was an important recognition of the region’s increasingly powerful role in Catholicism.

 Pope Francis is the first ever from the Americas, an austere Jesuit intellectual who modernized Argentina's conservative Catholic church.

 A humble Jesuit from Argentina was chosen by his peers to be the next leader of the more than one billion Catholics around the world. 

 World leaders sent in their congratulations and Catholics around the world were celebrating Wednesday after the Vatican announced the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy ...

 Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has been elected by his peers as the new pope, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas. He has chosen to be known as Pope Francis.

 Pope John Paul II died nearly eight years ago, but on most storefronts within a mile of Vatican City, photos, postcards, posters and even bobble-head dolls remind you of the man who held the papa...