Among practicing Catholics, 90 percent now say they view Pope Francis favorably, up from 83 percent in August, one month before his visit. Among all Americans, the pope's numbers jumped from 58 percent to 74 percent.

 Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami cut to the chase about halfway through his Oct. 8 keynote at a Respect Life celebration sponsored by the Diocese of Evansville."The story of the Holy Family is instructive," said Archbishop Wenski, who devoted his remarks to migration and immigrat

While "a few problems" are grabbing media headlines, members of the Synod of Bishops on the family are highlighting the good things happening in the Catholic Church and identifying programs they think should be done better, said Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles.

Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, called the decision "meaningless."

"Jesus' words are strong, aren't they?" the pope said. "'Woe to the world for scandals.' Jesus is a realist. He says it's inevitable that there will be scandals, but 'Woe to the one who causes the scandal,'" the pope told people attending his weekly general audience.

Several women participating in the Synod of Bishops on the family said they are encouraged that their views are not only respected but included in the discussions taking place.

Housed in a Jesuit-owned building, the shelter is run with funds from the papal almoner

"As part of the church's ancient teaching on the dignity of the human person," Archbishop Vigano wrote, "the Holy Father has advocated for 'the establishment of the universal moratorium on executions throughout the world, in order to abolish capital punishment.'"

The ruling amounts to "a genuine judicial comedy tinted with denials" and suggested other genocide participants now "comfortably settled on French soil" would also be granted future impunity.

A visit in early 2016 would come as the country continues confronting vices like corruption, which has implicated the president, and insecurity in states such as Michoacan and Guerrero, the latter being where 43 students were kidnapped and presumably killed by police acting in cahoots with criminals in September 2014.