"That you have referenced poverty not once but twice in the document represents a significant and positive shift in our plans and priorities."

Bishop McElroy questioned the lack of attention to the areas of concern that Pope Francis has made the keystones of his pontificate.

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich asked why the conference’s long-standing support of comprehensive immigration reform was not specifically mentioned in the 2017-20 strategic plan. He also mentioned that the emphasis by Pope Francis on a global abolition of the death penalty, also long supported by the conference, likewise was lacking as a specific priority.

The U.S. bishops will vote tomorrow on whether or not to approve new additions to its quadrennial “Faithful Citizenship’ statement, refreshed this year to take into consideration some contemporary concerns and some of the new issues that Pope Francis has been bringing to the attention of the global church.

“We understand that there is going to be some concern and vetting” of refugees seeking protection and resettlement in the United States to make sure they have the “proper intent,” but “we are going to be ready to receive them.”

Religious liberty and Catholic identity are early topics of U.S. bishops' meeting in Baltimore

In the aftermath of the attacks in Paris, which at press time had claimed 132 lives and left hundreds more wounded, President François Hollande vowed to “be unforgiving with the barbarians from Daesh.” By Nov. 15 France had begun bombing raids on the ersatz capital of ISIS, Raqqa in Syr

“I am close to the people of France, to the families of the victims, and I am praying for all of them,” Pope Francis said.

Scores have been killed in numerous attacks across the city of Paris tonight. Reacting to the carnage in Paris, the Holy See called for a united and decisive response.

In a keynote address on Nov. 11, Archbishop Cupich urged that the United States finally fix its broken immigration system, begin treating migrants to its borders as people in need of protection, not detention and begin responding more generously to the Middle East crisis by accepting more people for refugee resettlement.