Vatican

Two state-sponsored church bodies in China have elected new leaders, who promised to invigorate the Catholic faithful pastorally in line with the socialist principles of the Chinese Communist Party.

Pope Francis offered prayers and condolences to the victims of a fire in an Orthodox Church that took the lives of 41 people — including 18 children — who died in a fire in Egypt’s capital, Cairo.

Mary’s humble life and example are a testament to the triumph of service and love over power and success, Pope Francis said.

In the more than 700 years that have passed since St. Celestine established the legal precedent, the right of a pope to resign remains ensured in church law.