Pope prays for Haitian people, flood victims in Vietnam, Sicily

Pope Francis called on world leaders to aid the people of Haiti as the country continues to descend into chaos due to widespread violence, economic instability and natural disasters.

Biden attends Mass in Rome, tells reporters of his admiration for pope

Pope Francis "is a man who has a great empathy. He's a man who understands that part of his Christianity is to reach out and forgive," U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters in Rome Oct. 31.

Those ‘centered on Eucharist’ always have sense of gratitude, says cardinal

New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan told a Catholic audience at the U.S. Naval Academy that he is apprehensive about "the lack of gratitude festering in our culture of entitlement" and there's an urgency for us to "rediscover a sense of gratitude."

New federation forms to focus on Hispanic family ministry issues

A new federation to focus on issues surrounding Hispanic family ministry has been formed by the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers.

Pretrial hearing is held in McCarrick case; second hearing will be Dec. 21

The Dedham District Court held a pretrial hearing Oct. 28 in the criminal sex abuse case of former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, who is facing three counts of sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1970s.

Biden says pope told him to continue receiving Communion

Pope Francis and U.S. President Joe Biden had an unusually long meeting at the Vatican Oct. 29, talking about the climate crisis and poverty, but not about abortion, the president said.

Death-row spiritual advisers weigh in on Supreme Court case

A case before the Supreme Court Nov. 9 argues that death-row chaplains should have the final word.

Climate crisis requires ‘radical decisions,’ pope tells BBC listeners

The crises caused by climate change and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic require a strong response to prevent a "'perfect storm' that could rupture the bonds holding our society together within the greater gift of God's creation," Pope Francis said.

Extreme poverty can be ended ‘immediately,’ speaker says at Vatican

Extreme deprivation could be ended "basically immediately," said U.S. economist and member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Jeffrey D. Sachs.

Hypersonic weapons open way to new arms race, Catholic observers say

It isn't just the Pentagon taking note of hypersonic weapons development and recent testing reportedly undertaken by China, Russia and North Korea.