To be a true Christian means being forgiving, kind, humble, gentle, generous, merciful and very patient with one another, Pope Francis said in a morning homily.Priests must be especially merciful, he added, saying if that they weren't, then they should ask their bishop for a desk job and "n

"Churches, parishes, institutions with closed doors must not call themselves a church; they must call themselves museums," he said.

The outside world is not what "makes us saints or not saints, rather it is the heart that expresses our intentions, our choices and the desire to do everything for God's love," Pope Francis said before praying the Angelus Aug. 30.

Pledge to make cities "socially inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable" through low-impact development

Democracy must return to politics and unusual alliances must form in order to get the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle poverty, said a panel of speakers attending a Vatican conference.But as people band together for change, world leaders will have to commit to real binding action

Focusing on poverty and sacrificing for the poor are the heart of the Gospel, not signs of communism, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass.Furthermore, if Christians don't dig deep and generously open up their wallets, they do not have "genuine faith," the pope said June 16 during the

C.D.F. to "judge bishops with regard to crimes...connected to the abuse of minors."

A society that does not include religious views and challenges in public debate becomes an "enemy of freedom," said the Vatican's foreign minister.

Families are weakened and destroyed by war, "the mother of all forms of poverty," as well as by economies and policies that worship money and power, Pope Francis said."It's almost a miracle" that, even in poverty and crisis, the family can keep on going, safeguarding its bond

Church leaders cannot be indifferent to the plight of immigrants, and it is "inexcusable" not to promote cooperation between a host nation and countries of origin, Pope Francis told bishops from the Dominican Republic."It is important to integrate immigrants into society and to welcom