Four Cuban American bishops called on the international community to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba and expressed solidarity with them following protests that erupted on the island nation starting July 11.

Pope Francis returned to the Vatican just before midday, July 14, after spending nine days in the Gemelli hospital recovering from an intestinal operation on July 4.

A smiling and standing pope patted the children on their heads as their parents held them, according to photos of the encounter released by the Vatican.

Washington, Colorado and Oregon are now among the U.S. states that have legalized the process of converting human bodies into soil, a procedure the Catholic Church said fails to show “respect for the body of the deceased.”

Pope Francis “is continuing his planned treatment and rehabilitation, which will allow him to return to the Vatican as soon as possible.”

Given all the challenges facing the Catholic Church in our country, we are far overdue for a moment in which the bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful of our country can discern together how to be the people of God in our time and place.