The war has “caused a grave humanitarian crisis that has left half of the country’s population, around 7.3 million people, hungry every day."

Parents must help young people see the blessing of growing into adulthood, Pope Francis told priests, religious, catechists and parish council members.

Pope Francis made the pilgrimage to honor two 20th-century parish priests whose commitment to the poor and powerless brought them censure from the Vatican.

Pope Francis will travel to Colombia in September and he will return to South America in January for a visit to Chile and Peru.

This was the pope and chancellor's sixth meeting.