Authorities said Father Walter Vasquez Jimenez was traveling with parishioners March 29 to officiate a Holy Thursday Mass in San Miguel when their car was stopped by an armed group wearing masks. The other passengers were set free after their belongings were taken, but Father Vasquez was abducted, shot and left to die.

The pope left chocolate eggs as gifts during his surprise visit to Casa di Leda, a group home for incarcerated women with small children.

Making it more difficult for families to visit prisoners, or have any contact with them, is contrary to respect for human life and dignity.

Review: Michelle Kuo’s "Reading With Patrick: a Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship"

Pope Francis has visited other prisons, but this was the first time on his travels as pope that he visited one just for women. He was greeted by women standing with their babies in their arms. 

The Justice Department is vowing to enforce a federal ban on marijuana, even as some states try to move toward full legalization.