NATION/WORLD

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The church needs courageous men and women like Italian Bishop Antonio Bello of Molfetta, who imitated Jesus’ closeness to the poor and the downtrodden, Pope Francis said.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Bluegrass music may not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Dominicans, but for the 10 Dominican brothers and priests at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington who recently released their debut album, “The Hillbilly Thomists,” the two have a lot in common.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Ordaining 16 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis urged them to be merciful with the people who approach them, especially in the confessional.

TORONTO (CNS) — Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins called for special prayers after a van jumped a curb and killed at least 10 people on a busy Toronto street.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis led thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square in prayers for the success of the inter-Korean summit, scheduled for April 27.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The sacrament of Baptism isn’t a good luck charm but a gift from God that enables Christians to overcome evil, Pope Francis said.

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — A young Hungarian priest who was lured into a forest and beaten and stabbed to death is to be the latest East European martyr declared blessed by the Catholic Church.

The pope invited pilgrims in St. Peter's Square April 29 to join his prayers May 1 at the shrine and "to prolong for the whole month of May praying the rosary for peace."

Although "beer" is in the group's name, non-beer drinkers are more than welcome. And though most attendees are faithful Catholics, conversation typically isn't too theological.

"I see it as a pro-life organization, where people are being served who are often rejected by society," said Aaron Thompson, Upward Bound board chairman and a parishioner of St. Juan Diego Parish in Portland.