Pope Francis' repeated invitations to practice mercy and charity have become the focus of efforts to defuse the widespread polarization that has wracked society and has crossed into Catholic circles.

The Supreme Court's past year will probably be remembered more for the shakeup at the bench than for specific rulings.

2018 will no doubt be remembered as a dark time for the U.S. Catholic Church.

Pope Francis marked the fifth anniversary of his election in March in the midst of a firestorm over his handling of clerical sexual abuse and bishops' accountability in Chile.

The year may be coming to an end but the battles on the immigration front promise to continue well into 2019 and beyond.

The pope’s comments have provoked consternation among previous admirers, who worry that he is walking back the more pastoral approach to L.G.B.T. Catholics that has been his hallmark, and rejoicing among some of his usual critics, who complain that his persistent emphasis on mercy can sometimes break church doctrine.