Since the pope's encyclical on climate, "Laudato Si'," college presidents have been adding their names to the pledge, stating that they will work together regionally and globally "to study, promote and act on the ideals and vision of integral ecology laid out by Pope Francis."

U.S. President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro and the Vatican have called for a lifting of the embargo, which was first put in place in 1960 and repeatedly strengthened in the years since.

"The people of California—especially the poor, the elderly, minorities and the disabled—deserve much better from their leaders," the archbishop said. "And make no mistake, it will be these most vulnerable populations who are going to suffer from this legislation."

The European Union must adopt a common asylum policy "without delay" because it is unacceptable for refugees to "drown and suffocate" at the fringes of the bloc, said the European bishops.

Workers across India are upset about labor policies they say are detrimental to their welfare, said Bishop Oswald Lewis of Jaipur.

Pope Francis held a "virtual town hall" with Catholics in Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas, in advance of his Sept. 22-27 visit to the United States.

Pope Francis held a "virtual town hall" with Catholics in Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas, in advance of his Sept. 22-27 visit to the United States.The town hall was arranged by ABC News, which was to air portions of the meeting during its "World News Tonight" program Aug

"It was like a war zone. No sign of life," said now-retired New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- More than a month before Pope Francis was scheduled to arrive in the United States, his ride landed on U.S. shores."A Jeep Wrangler will be used as the popemobile in the USA (like the one used in Ecuador in July 2015)," the Vatican press office said in a statement Aug

Some Catholics in South Korea said the exchange of shots on Aug. 20 between North and South Korea along their common border was bigger news outside their country than locally.Maryknoll Sister Jean Maloney has lived in South Korea since the last year of the Korean War in 1953. She told Catholic News