The cardinal sees an opportunity for the Diocese of Hong Kong to reach out to both the “open” and the “underground” Catholic Church in mainland China.

Housing is a human right, especially for women, who often are solely responsible for the care and upbringing of children, a Vatican official said.

Roman Catholics and Anglicans should renew their commitments to praying and working for Christian unity, Pope Benedict XVI said.

According to the president of Caritas Lebanon, families escaping Syria "are coming out in the cold with nothing but the clothes on their backs.”

In a letter to Congress, Bishop Stephen Blaire and Bishop Richard Pates supported moves to strengthen programs that help the poor and vulnerable at home and abroad.

Demographic data show the U.S. church is younger and more ethnically diverse, though increasingly Latino.