Archbishop Charles Scicluna said his mission to the country was a sign of Pope Francis’ closeness to the local church.

A decision to deny appeals for asylum in the United States based on claims of domestic abuse or gang violence has been deplored by Catholic leaders from coast to coast.

Bishop Barros has been at the center of Chile's growing scandal ever since Francis appointed him bishop of Osorno in 2015 over the objections of the local faithful, his own sex abuse prevention advisers and some of Chile's other bishops.

The preparatory document for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian Region invites input from the local churches in the nine countries of the Amazonian region.

At the Region VI Encuentro June 2-3 in Detroit, dioceses were asked to encourage priests and lay leaders to learn more about and provide space for Hispanic devotions and traditions.

Violence in Nicaragua has claimed about 100 lives since April 18.