Catholicism

Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was born in Ireland and served as a priest and a bishop for more than four decades. The 69-year-old was remembered as a "peacemaker."

He stressed that lack of charity with one another is also a sin and added that the Catholic Church should work to put an end to laws in some countries that criminalize homosexuality.

Pell was the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of child sex abuse and spent 404 days in solitary confinement in his native Australia only to have his convictions overturned.

Bells tolled Thursday for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the German theologian who made history by retiring, as thousands of mourners packed St. Peter's Square.

Pope Benedict XVI died this weekend. The 95-year-old pope emeritus shocked the world when he resigned in 2013.

Benedict was the first pope to step down in nearly 600 years, creating a rare relationship between a sitting and former pope.

He is remembered as a staunch conservative who opposed modernizing reforms and as the first pope to step down since the 15th century.

"Pope Francis renews the invitation to pray for him and accompany him in these difficult hours," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

The priest, Frank Pavone of Texas, heads the anti-abortion group Priests for Life. The Vatican said he was defrocked for "blasphemous communications on social media" and "persistent disobedience."

The retired bishop of Albany, New York, who has admitted to covering up for predator priests and has himself been accused of sexual abuse, has asked Pope Francis to remove him from the priesthood.