Reconnecting the church “with the energy of the Second Vatican Council,” may be the pope’s greatest achievement, Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington said in an exclusive interview as the fourth anniversary of the pope’s election approaches.

"Any delay in improving safeguarding documents around the world is leaving vulnerable people and children in danger."

Addressing 90 experts from many countries, Francis said that “all people have a right to safe drinking water.”

“Amoris Laetitia” addresses the reality of Catholics in “non-legitimate unions” and opens the possibility for them to receive the Eucharist under certain conditions.

The pope's emphasis on protecting undocumented workers is particularly significant for Europe and the United States, where the treatment of refugees and migrants has been a consistent challenge.

Msgr. Viganò has direct responsibility for the secretariat’s editorial division, where he said, “we are now building a central content hub,” following the “Disney business model.”

Francis denounced the abuse of children by priests as “an absolute monstrosity, a horrendous sin, that is radically contrary to all that Christ teaches.”

It is clear that if the president requests an audience, “the door would be open.”

The pope welcomed the news that La Civilta Cattolica will now be published in English.

One fruit of this Sino-Vatican agreement, which neither side has confirmed, will be that “from now on, there will be no more the crisis of a division between the open and underground communities in the church in China,” wrote Cardinal Tong.