Pope Francis has exposed the political "maneuvers" used to sway votes during the two most recent elections of popes in a book-length interview. The revelations are contained in "The Successor: My Memories of Benedict XVI." In it, the Argentine pope reflects on his relationship with the late German pope and settles some scores with Benedict's longtime aide. The book was written as a conversation with the correspondent for Spain's ABC daily and was published Tuesday. It comes at a delicate time for the 87-year-old Francis. His frail health has raised questions about how much longer he will remain pope, whether he might follow in Benedict's footsteps and resign, and who might eventually replace him.

The Vatican says Pope Francis has skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum to protect his health, adding to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy liturgical period. Francis had been expected to preside over the Way of the Cross procession, which re-enacts Christ's Passion and crucifixion, and composed the meditations that are read aloud at each station. But just as the event was about to begin, the Vatican announced that Francis was following the event from his home at the Vatican. It was the first time he had skipped the traditional, evocative event in his 11-year papacy, an event that St. John Paul II famously skipped just before he died in 2005.

An 8-year-old girl was the lone survivor after a bus full of Easter pilgrims from Botswana making their way to a popular church festival in rural South Africa crashed off a bridge on a mountain pass and plunged more than 150 feet into a ravine before bursting into flames. Authorities said all 45 others onboard were killed. The tragedy exemplified how deadly South African roads are during the Easter period, when millions crisscross the country during the long holiday weekend. Authorities repeatedly warn motorists to be cautious over Easter and had issued multiple public messages a day before Thursday's horrific crash.