NATION/WORLD

People can choose either to tackle life's challenges with the loving and wise heart of God or be driven by their own passions and interests, Pope Francis said.

One of hotelier Conrad N. Hilton's wishes in his final will was to support Catholic sisters all over the world, and in its 70 years, his foundation has helped accomplish this.

Healing and reconciliation continue 20 years after Rwanda's 100 days of genocide, making the central African nation a strong example for troubled states to emulate, international observers said.

Archbishop Jorge Carlos Patrón Wong, Secretary for Seminaries in the Congregation for Clergy, instituted 53 seminarians from 42 U.S. dioceses to the ministry of acolyte April 6 in Rome. Among them was Phoenix's own Dan Connealy.

The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that said a New Mexico photographer violated the state's human rights law by refusing to photograph a commitment ceremony for a same-sex couple.

Clinical staff members are pairing up from the mental health program at Catholic Community Services to serve as full-time counselors in the weeks following a mudslide north of Seattle. Donations have topped $90,000 which will help with funeral expenses and material losses.

Advocates attending the National Poverty Summit pledged to reframe how Americans see their poor neighbors and to work to build stronger relationships across economic classes.

Just days before Rwanda was to begin a weeklong period of official mourning to mark the 20th anniversary of its genocide, Pope Francis urged the country's bishops to be resolute in continuing the work of healing and reconciliation.

Once again, the people at Fort Hood "are at the center of national attention and the focus of our prayers," Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services said in response to the April 2 shooting at the Texas military base.

Don't hold back when praying to God — tell him exactly what's wrong and insist on holding him to his promises, Pope Francis said. Prayer should be like speaking face-to-face with a friend: "without fear, freely and also with insistence."