Any willingness to cooperate across party lines is praiseworthy. Unfortunately, brinkmanship remains the preferred legislative strategy.

When a pope issues a document “motu proprio,” it means he does so by his own motivation, and it can mean a significant change to church law.

"We often hear faithful Catholics who see mercy at work and ask, 'Why?'"

Pope Francis reminds us that we must "cleanse, heal and restore" the sinner, including those returning to society from prisons.

Pope Francis continues to spread his message of Christian hope, aiming especially to reach and inspire young people.

"May our mother, the Virgin of Guadalupe, with great tenderness be near the beloved Mexican nation," the pope said in Spanish Sept. 20 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.