Rite&Reason: Canonised in 2002, much loved saint died 50 years ago this week

Pope Francis is 266th occupant of the post and the first Jesuit pope

The quintessential homestead had an open hearth, the glow from the Sacred Heart and a picture of JFK

Captain Myles Walter Keogh's story provides rare insight into life of 19th century Irish emigrant soldier

‘You can’t impose, really, obligations on people who are only two weeks old’

Conscience in the Catholic Church is supreme, above teachings of Pope and bishops

Lemass believed his row with the bishop of Galway led to his ‘enormous vote’ in the 1944 general election

Vatican emissary satisfied Terence MacSwiney hunger strike ‘seems not supported’

A plethora of fascinating destinations beyond the beaten track are opening for 2017

Pope’s encyclical challenged trickle-down theory and warned of uneven growth

Irish connections: Margaret Haughery went from destitution to celebrated philanthropist

Prelature founded in Spain has 94,000 members, one-third of which are celibate laity

Residence never used by Pope Francis, who does not live in Vatican’s apostolic palace

Over 300,000 to attend June novenas which have become a major religious event

Singer is last person to go on before Mass at end of pope’s five-day visit to the US

Known locally as ‘Taj Miceál’, its landmark green dome towers over the city skyline

Allegations of sexual harassment led prelate to miss out on the conclave that elected pope

‘Two Studies for Self-Portrait’ sold in less than two minutes at Sotheby's in London

The Immaculate Conception of Mary

The Renaissance was hugely influenced by classical texts, which had little (good) to say about Ireland. Yet Petrarch was a big fan and Lough Derg was a popular pilgrimage spot

The married Franciscan who fathered nine children

Assumption

No previous pontiff has taken ultimate sanction against Italian organised crime

Recalling worldwide response to a calamity

In the 400 years up to 1954 no pontiff was declared a saint

John XXIII and John Paul II represent both left and right factions in church

Uncertainty about the historian’s craft is evident in this account of the fight for the Free State’s soul

While acknowledging Pope Pius XII’s reluctance to challenge fascism during the second World War, this new study gives the Vatican full credit for what it it did to protect Jews and Allied soldiers

The Polish king led the largest cavalry charge in history to save Vienna from a Turkish attackjoint forces of Poland and the Holy Roman Empire at Vienna in 1683, when the