Some background to the kerfuffle over Pope Francis and kissing the papal ring.

During his May 31-June 2 visit to Romania, Pope Francis will beatify seven bishop-martyrs who died as a result of an anti-religious campaign during Romania's Communist regime. During that trip, the pope will also meet with Romania's Roma community.

“Young people who are seeking or questioning their future can find Mary to be the one who helps them discern God’s plan for them and find the strength to follow it.”

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, the archbishop of Santiago, Chile, the Vatican announced on March 23.

Catholic social thought has much to teach us about how to balance our commitment to the common good with contemporary economic practices and structures.

“Walk together, work together, love each other.” That is how Pope Francis described the journey of building Christian unity in the 21st century. Michael Rudzena is walking that path as part of the John 17 Movement, an ecumenical group dedicated to responding to the prayer of Jesus that “all who believe in me be one.”