While Europe has played a significantly weighty role in the development of Christianity, "now we see how the church is growing in numbers in Latin America, in Africa and in Asia. The pope is making this clear. This universal character of the church is very beautiful."

Ten-month-old Charlie Gard was born in England with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, which causes progressive muscle weakness, brain damage and respiratory or liver failure; it is typically fatal.

"I'm totally depressed. I was approved over a year ago for resettlement, just passed my medical exam last week and was hoping to see family living in Iowa. But instead I'll be stuck here worried about my physical safety," said Ibrahim, who like many Sudanese refugees has no travel documents and thus cannot leave Egypt.

People must ask themselves whether they are "'armchair Catholics,' who love to chat about how things are going in the church and the world," Pope Francis said, or if they are "apostles on the go," who are on fire with love for God and ready to offer their lives for him.

Labor unions must guard and protect workers, but also defend the rights of those "outside the walls," Pope Francis said.

An ailing Mali archbishop facing allegations of financial impropriety assured the Vatican on Tuesday he plans to show up at St. Peter's Basilica to be made a cardinal by Pope Francis.