Fact: Marie Alphonsine Ghattas and Mariam Baouardy have become first two Palestinian saints of modern times after they were canonised by Pope Francis on Sunday (17May15). Ghattas was a turn-of-the-last-century nun who founded the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem (the Rosary Sisters), while Baouardy was a 19th century mystic, who experienced the stigmata.
Tweet: "I wish everyone a wonderful World Cup, played in a spirit of true fraternity." Soccer fan Pope Francis on his hopes for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which began on Thursday (12Jun14) as host nation Brazil played Croatia.
Quote: "Given the amount of controversy surrounding this film, and has been surrounding it for a year now, the fact that we were invited to the Vatican was extremely kind and I think the Holy Father showed a great level of consistency with the things he's been saying and things he's been doing. It was an incredible privilege to be invited." Russell Crowe felt honoured to be invited to hear an address by Pope Francis in the Vatican during a recent trip to Italy to promote new religious movie Noah.
Fact: Nicole Scherzinger and her racing driver boyfriend Lewis Hamilton met Pope Francis while on a romantic break to Rome, Italy. The pair waited with the crowd in the Vatican to shake hands with the pontiff on Tuesday (18Feb14).
Fact: Pope Francis has been officially installed in his new post following an inauguration Mass in Vatican City, Italy on Tuesday (19Mar13). He was elected last week (ends17Mar13) to take over from Benedict Xvi following his resignation. Attendees at the Mass included U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.