NEWS

The pope made his comments during a gathering in St. Peter's Square June 7 with tens of thousands of children, young adults, coaches and athletes to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Italian Sports Center, the Catholic Action's sports association in Italy. The square had been turned into a "sports village" with makeshift basketball and volleyball courts, mini-soccer fields, and gymnastic equipment.

Franciscan Father Ignatius Maternowski was remembered for his bravery and commitment to serving soldiers in the battlefield during a ceremony in Normandy marking the 70th anniversary of the Allied-led D-Day invasion.

"Present generations should express their full recognition to all those who made such a heavy sacrifice," the Vatican said in a message commemorating the June 6, 1944, invasion of Normandy. A Catholic Army chaplain made the ultimate sacrifice.

There are so many children and young teens from Central America trying to get into the United States on their own that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been asked to deal with the situation as a crisis.

Popes pray for peace; it is part of their ministry. And when war is raging or peace negotiations seem hopelessly bogged down, recent popes have invited leaders of other Christian traditions and other faiths to join them in prayer.

For Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, the third annual Fortnight for Freedom is an opportunity to consider the link between religious liberty and service to the poor.

The gift of piety that the Holy Spirit gives us makes us meek; it makes us peaceful, patient and at peace with God in gentle service to others," Pope Francis said in his weekly general audience. He was continuing a series of audience talks about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its Catholic Charities affiliates sued three agencies of the U.S. federal government June 2 seeking relief from the federal mandate that most employers cover contraceptives in their employee health plans.

Jesuit Refugee Service's country director in Afghanistan — a priest from India — was kidnapped June 2 as he was leaving a school serving children who were recently returned to Afghanistan after living as refugees in Iran or Pakistan.

U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., has introduced the Every Child Is a Blessing Act to combat "wrongful birth" lawsuits and prevent discrimination against children born with disabilities.