VATICAN CITY -- With so much conflict, violence and war, the world needs people who are specially prepared to bring Gospel values to social, political and economic situations, Pope Francis said.

The newly established "Sunday of the Word of God" is an invitation to Catholics across the world to deepen their appreciation, love and faithful witness to God and his word, Pope Francis said.

God wills the salvation of all persons, Pope Francis said in his general audience Oct. 16, reflecting on the Acts of the Apostles.

Jesus Christ desires that all people know him and his love, and every Catholic has the mission of sharing this love with the world, Pope Francis said at Mass for World Mission Day.

Hope, which is more than mere optimism, gives one a deep-rooted confidence in the love and care of God, no matter what has happened, Pope Francis said June 16.

Pope Francis, in his message for World Mission Day, asked the Church to remember her "missionary awareness and commitment," rooted in the grace of baptism.

In a meeting with members of the Federation of European Food Banks Saturday, Pope Francis warned against food waste, which he said shows a lack of concern for others.

Pope Francis met with a group of high school students this weekend, encouraging them to monitor their cell phone use, so as not to create obstacles to a culture of encounter.

If you are a young person, the parent of young people or a ministry leader, your thoughts are wanted.

While the Catholic Church has always discouraged capital punishment as part of its pro-life teachings, Pope Francis strengthened the language of opposition in August, changing the Catechism of the Catholic Church to state "the death penalty is inadmissible."

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis called Monday for every member of the Catholic Church to pray and fast in penance for the evil of clerical sex abuse, and to be involved in needed change within the Church.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - By most accounts, Pope Francis was elected with a mandate to reform the Roman Curia- the complex network of dicasteries, commissions, and councils charged with the central administrative work of the Catholic Church- a network that, even to insiders and experts, more often resembles a rabbit warren than a well-defined system of governable offices with clear responsibilities.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - The Vatican changed on Thursday the Catechism of the Catholic Church's teaching on the permissibility of the death penalty, which the Church has taught is legitimate in limited cases, stating the penalty is 'inadmissible,' and its elimination should be sought.

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, from the College of Cardinals.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - Pope Francis surprised wedding guests Saturday when he unexpectedly celebrated a marriage being held at a small chapel in the Vatican Gardens.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - In a new interview with Reuters, Pope Francis backed the U.S. bishops' opposition to the separation of migrant children from their parents at the Mexican border, calling the move "immoral" and "contrary to Catholic values."

At a time when daily scandals and bad behavior seem to dominate the headlines, taking a moment to pause and listen to the reflections of an international religious leader like Pope Francis sounds like a pretty good idea. A new documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Wim Wenders that looks at the philosophies and mission of Pope Francis was released locally on Friday.

LINCOLN, NEB. (CNA) - Five years ago, I stood in the refectory of St. John Vianney Seminary of Denver, with colleagues, friends, and a few hundred seminarians, watching on television as a much larger crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square. When Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, appeared on a balcony above the square, we erupted into cheers, and then we fell silent as the pope asked the world to pray for him, and offered us his blessing.

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News)- The Vatican announced Wednesday that Pope Francis has recognized a second miracle allowing five people on the path to sainthood to be canonized, the most prominent being Bl. Pope Paul VI and Bl. Oscar Romero.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - With debate on the status of Jerusalem heating up in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognize the city as the capital of Israel, Pope Francis has urged international leaders to proceed with prudence and respect for current U.N. resolutions.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis sent a message Thursday to a conference on climate change, telling participants the problem is something that can't be ignored, but must be met with a proactive desire to develop effective solutions.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On Wednesday, Pope Francis called out the common habit of chatting with people around you before Mass, stressing that this is a time for silent prayer, when we prepare our hearts for an encounter with the Lord.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis has reportedly said he will allow for debate as to whether married men could be ordained to the priesthood in the region during a 2019 Synod of Bishops focusing on the Church in the Amazon basin.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - A member of the Vatican's International Theological Commission has resigned his position as a consultant to the USCCB's Committee on Doctrine, following the publication of a letter written to Pope Francis asking the Pope to correct the "chronic confusion" of his pontificate, which he says "fosters within the faithful a growing unease."

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On Sunday Pope Francis reflected on Jesus' command to love God above all things, and your neighbor as yourself, saying that it is in the Eucharist that we receive the grace to carry this out.

The St. Mary's High School travel softball team hit a grand slam this summer. They won the Msgr. Martin League Championship, toured Italy and tagged the pope outside the Vatican.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis on Wednesday spoke about the hope Christians have at the end of life, which is found in God's promise to be with us at the moment of our death, and to give us eternal life with him in heaven.

Today, several dozen bishops across the United States are joining Pope Francis as he launched the two-year "Share the Journey" campaign, holding events and reaching out to support migrants and refugees in their own dioceses as the campaign aims to raise awareness about their plight worldwide.

On September 27, Pope Francis will launch the worldwide, two-year "Share the Journey" campaign calling on Catholics and the faithful to 'encounter' migrants and refugees in an effort to break down barriers of fear and suspicion and build bridges of understanding and hospitality. Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are part of a global network of Caritas organizations participating in the campaign.

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with all those affected by Hurricane Harvey, in a message conveyed by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Jesus knows how hard life can be," Pope Francis said.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Stepping into a tumultuous legal battle involving a UK couple's push for a say in the treatment and death of their terminally ill son, Pope Francis has offered his prayers for the child, and asked that the parents' wishes be respected.

Members of an already beautiful and vibrant Catholic church in Olean took things to a whole new level on Thursday evening. With help from a string quartet, brass ensemble and an angelic choir, the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels welcomed a couple new symbols that could only be displayed in a basilica. The church's new tintinnabulum bell rang for the first time as part of the opening procession and the ombrellino was placed behind the presider's chair.

ROME, ITALY (CNA/EWTN News) - Discernment is one of the words Pope Francis repeats most, especially when speaking to priests and seminarians.

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News)- In his message for the first World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis said that the suffering and broken bodies of the poor are where we encounter the body of Christ - and to know Christ we must know the poor.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - After months of anticipation, Pope Francis and U.S. President Donald Trump finally met at the Vatican Wednesday in a friendly encounter which included an emphasis on protection of life and freedom of conscience.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On Sunday Pope Francis reflected on the May 13 canonization of the child visionaries St. Francisco and Jacinta Marto, saying that their faithfulness, despite their young age, reminds us to pay special attention to children in the ministry of the Church.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - During a press conference Saturday aboard the papal plane from Egypt to Rome, Pope Francis said that in the face of conflict and the possibility of nuclear war, United Nations leaders need to provide a strong leadership, focusing on diplomacy and peaceful negotiation.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Early Wednesday morning Pope Francis addressed the TED 2017 conference, telling participants that to have a hopeful outlook for the future, we must plant seeds of humility, solidarity and tenderness today.