Pope Francis urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to put an end to his country's eight-year-long conflict and seek reconciliation for the good of the nation and its vulnerable people.

Charlie Sykes: This is where the G.O.P.’s Faustian bargain has led. Their moral compromises and tolerance of President Trump‘s racism have become a habit.

Bishop Edward C. Malesic of Greensburg made the comments in a July 12 letter to members of the U.S. House and Senate who represent his state. He said he also sent the letter to President Donald Trump.

Though they weren't present, at least seven U.S. bishops made their views known via statements supporting the July 18 "Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children" near the U.S. Capitol.

“This has been a difficult and contentious week in which darker spirits seem to have been at play in the people’s house,” Father Conroy said. “In your most holy name, I now cast out all spirits of darkness from this chamber, spirits not from you.”

A few hundred Catholic activists, including dozens of women religious, gathered outside at the foot of the U.S. Capitol July 18 urging politicians to stop its "inhumane treatment" of immigrant children at the border.