“Before the challenges of contemporary movements of migration, the only reasonable response is one of solidarity and mercy,” Pope Francis said as he celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on July 6 for migrants and refugees.

Pope Francis' decision to move the World War II-era head of Poland's Catholic Church a step closer to possible sainthood has hit a stumbling block, after two leading Jewish organizations and even Polish Catholic publications called him out for anti-Semitic views.

Pope Francis has appointed Paolo Ruffini, 61, an Italian layperson with wide experience in print, radio and television, as the new Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication.

Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul with 14 new cardinals and gifted 27 new archbishops their palliums to bring home to their respective archdioceses.

The German bishops' conference said when the bishops meet in September, they will continue to examine the issue of Communion for Protestant spouses of Catholics.

Pope Francis used strong words that can be read both as an admonition and guidance for the entire college of cardinals.