Deadly violence hit Christians in Africa Jan. 15, with a Catholic priest in northern Nigeria burned to death and as many as 17 Christians killed in a blast in eastern Congo.

Pope Francis imparted the final blessing at the funeral of Cardinal Pell, who decried his papacy as a “catastrophe.”

Cardinal Pell, who died Tuesday, had written a memo outlining his concerns about Pope Francis' papacy, which was published soon after his death.

In his interview with OSV News, Cardinal Pell said Pope Benedict XVI "was one of the finest theologians of the last century” and “the best theologian who was ever the pope.”

Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as “Jesus” in the television series The Chosen, and other Catholic speakers are in the lineup for this year’s 50th annual national March for Life on Jan. 20.

Looking back 22 years after their public, published differences, Cardinal Walter Kasper wrote that his “friendly debate” with then-Cardinal Ratzinger had always pleased him.