“Our purpose is to call an end to the siege of Gaza, to this illegal collective punishment of the whole civilian population,” said the expedition’s organizer.

According to the postulator for the sainthood of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, her cause is “still waiting for one more miracle.”

The grants are specifically designated for programs that provide a voice for fishermen and the communities affected by the spill.

Pope Benedict said that the upcoming Synod on the Middle East would “highlight the important value of the Christian presence and witness in the biblical lands.”

The talks focused in part on the association’s support for health reform legislation that the U.S. bishops opposed.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the report shows Americans that human trafficking is "not someone else's problem."