Pope Francis has put 63 people including victims of the Spanish Civil War, Nazism and Communism on the path to sainthood by recognising miracles attributed to them, the Vatican said Thursday. The beatifications are the Argentine pope's first since being elected a fortnight ago and the largest number are considered martyrs of faith killed during the 1931-45 conflict in Spain. The youngest of the group -- who will be regarded as "blessed" in Catholic tradition -- is a 14-year-old Italian seminarian, Rolando Rivi, who was killed by Communist partisan compatriots in 1945.

By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - Two young women were among 12 people whose feet Pope Francis washed and kissed at a traditional ceremony in a Rome youth prison on Holy Thursday, the first time a pontiff has included females in the rite. The pope travelled to the Casal del Marmo prison on Rome's outskirts for the traditional Mass, which commemorates Jesus's gesture of humility towards his apostles the night before he died.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Less than 48 hours after his surprise election, Pope Francis's smiling face adorns pendants and devotional souvenir cards packaged with rosaries at the trinket stands near St. Peter's Square. Small plastic bags containing a picture of Francis and a rosary - a string of prayer beads - were selling for 7 euros (5.96 pounds) at Antonio Cardone's stand and postcards showing the new pontiff were selling briskly at 50 cents.

Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, was enthroned on Thursday, taking over the leadership of 80 million Anglicans worldwide in a service calling for Christian unity that was enlivened by African dancers. Welby, a 57-year-old former oil executive, was formally sworn in as spiritual head of the Church of England in front of 2,000 guests at Canterbury Cathedral, including Prime Minister David Cameron and heir to the throne Prince Charles. The inauguration service in the 12th-century cathedral in southeast England included some unusual touches.