A priest who does not willingly embrace Christ's cross and who does not try to lighten the burdens of his people is not worthy of the name, Pope Francis said.

The Congolese bishops voiced their concern over rising tension in Congo after President Joseph Kabila unilaterally nominated Bruno Tshibala as prime minister over the objection of opposition parties.

"Filing a complaint at the ICC is a good move for the whole world to know that crimes against humanity, seemingly sanctioned by the government, are being committed in this Christian country," said Bishop Bastes.

Father Ignatius Rai, pastor of the cathedral parish, said "unknown persons" broke into the church premises and started a fire that partially damaged the priest's residence and the western part of the church.

The U.S. Catholic Church welcomed thousands of new Catholics at the Easter Vigil on April 15 in churches big and small across the country.

Catholic bishops whose dioceses cover portions of Maryland said their state "is not immune from this tragic reality."

The U.S. State Department's will no longer contribute to the U.N. Population Fund because of the agency's involvement in China's "one-child policy."

The committee chairmen also said that withdrawal of the bill "must not end our nation's efforts to improve health care."

Conditions have worsened for surviving Christians under the dictatorship of Kim Jong Un, said a priest working with North Korean refugees in China.

Catholic bishops in Congo have abandoned attempts to arrange a government-opposition power-sharing agreement, amid rising violence.