On the eve of Pope Francis’ visit to Romania, the Greek Catholic bishop of Bucharest, Mihai Fratila, spoke about the changes in his homeland since St. John Paul II’s visit in 1999 and the contemporary difficulties Romanians face.

“I come as a pilgrim and a brother,” Pope Francis said in a video message to the people of Romania on the eve of his visit to the largest of the Balkan states and a predominantly Orthodox country.

Pope Francis: “I knew nothing about McCarrick.... If not, I would not have remained silent.”

The logic of “me first and then the others,” sometimes cited by believers and frequently used by politicians to gain votes and power in European countries, the United States and elsewhere, is not the logic of Christ.

Caritas Internationalis is increasingly being called to help with challenges provoked by climate change. “Our food production is at stake.”

“One of the first things that dictators do is to remove the freedom of the press,” he said.

By reconnecting the building to the power supply and breaking the seals that prevented the building from having power, the papal almoner broke the law. But he was unrepentant.

Pope Francis has authorized the organization of pilgrimages to the Marian shrine of Medjugorje, the Vatican announced today.

“In regard to the diaconate we must see what was there at the beginning of revelation, if there was something, let it grow and it arrives, but if there was not, if the Lord didn’t want a sacramental ministry for women, it can’t go forward.”

Pope Francis today issued a wide-ranging decree, known as a "motu proprio" or executive decree, that lays down procedures and norms for reporting abuse in the church, aimed at the eradication of abuse in the church.