"John Paul II is blessed because of his faith—a strong, generous and apostolic faith," Pope Benedict said May 1 just minutes after formally beatifying his predecessor.

Official extortion and abuse are "one of the causes of the weariness and discouragement of our population," says Congo bishop.

The Catholic community continues efforts to prevent the needs of the poor from being heaped onto the pile of expendables.

President Benigno Aquino said that he would risk excommunication to support a law that would allow artificial contraception in the Philippines.

With more legislatures taking immigration-related problems into state hands, President Obama renewed his commitment to a federal approach to reform.

Mexico confronted the horror of another mass slaying in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas.