Sylvia Poggioli

Politically conservative Catholics criticize Francis for being pro-migrant, anti-capitalist and less rigid in doctrine than predecessors. The cleric sex abuse scandals have emboldened these critics.

As the Catholic Church deals with new sex-abuse revelations, the pope opened a three-week gathering of bishops in Rome Saturday on how to make the Church relevant for young people.

Pope Francis met with a delegation of U.S. Catholic Church leaders. The pope also announced that he's calling an unprecedented meeting in February of more than 100 bishops from around the world.

Pope Francis is meeting with U.S. archbishops Thursday about the sex abuse crisis and in particular the accusations against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, formerly the archbishop of Washington, D.C.

Italians coined the words "espresso" and "cappuccino" and think of themselves as the custodians of top quality coffee. So the arrival of the first Starbucks in Milan has been met with skepticism and alarm — but also curiosity.

This week, Starbucks opens its first location in Italy. The new store is in Milan, which former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz credits with the inspiration for the company.

In the era of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, mudslinging between rival church factions is now occurring in the open. Key unanswered questions have emboldened some of the pope's critics.

Ireland has been plagued by sexual abuse scandals involving priests. The pope's visit comes as the Catholic Church faces multiple sexual abuse scandals across the world.

The pope is under intense pressure to enact concrete measures to ensure accountability for church officials who ignored or covered up sexual abuse by clergy.

After days of silence and a barrage of criticism for failing to address the most recent priest sex abuse scandal, the Vatican speaks: "The Holy See condemns unequivocally the sexual abuse of minors."

A long section of the towering Ponte Morandi Bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, on Tuesday — sending cars and trucks on the highway crashing down below.

The bridge was part of a busy highway in the port city of Genoa in Northwest Italy. About a dozen vehicles were likely on the bridge when it collapsed, authorities say.

From buses that catch fire to uncollected trash, Rome is facing a mess of problems with urban services. One group has responded by filling 5,000 potholes as the city tries to repair itself.

President Trump has blasted establishment politicians as he travels through Europe. In the "Barbershop," Michel Martin asks NPR correspondents if his populist messaging is affecting European politics.

Meet Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who has emerged as a powerful hard-liner driving tough anti-immigration stances in Italy's new government.

Sketches on the walls of a once hidden room of a museum in Florence help shed light on the Renaissance artist's creative process — and on a mysterious and dangerous period in his life.

Italy's president has consented to allow two populist parties to form a governing coalition. But the arrangement has left some watchers worried about the potential consequences for Europe.

The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League have joined forces — a move that has investors and the European Union on edge over promises for a referendum on the eurozone.

At heart is a power struggle between politicians who want Italy to remain a member of the European Union and the winners of March elections — Euroskeptic populists. Italy's president vetoed a populist coalition meaning fresh elections may need to be called.

Furious over President Sergio Mattarella's rejection of the populist coalition's euroskeptic pick for economic minister, 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio called for Mattarella's impeachment.