Pope Francis attended the funeral Mass and presided over the final commendation of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the French cardinal who led the Vatican's outreach to other religions and who had announced to the world his election as pope five years ago.

Following the recent killings of priests in the Central African Republic, Catholic officials worry that clergy are being targeted by armed groups for their peacemaking efforts.

To be seen—to be desired—is a beautiful human need no matter what our age is.

French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, an experienced diplomat and head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, died at the age of 75 in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was receiving medical treatment.

The C.D.C. reports a 25 percent spike between 1999 and 2016 in the frequency of suicide across the country.

The medical profession’s hegemony over questions of illness and dying is not complete; faith communities are still needed for discernment and guidance.