Archbishop Christophe Pierre spoke to the U.S. bishops Nov. 16 about the importance of listening to people in the church and being open to the work of the Holy Spirit.

“We all need God to help us to make sense of our lives, so when we try to live without God, we can become confused,” Archbishop Gomez explained.

Many carried signs emblazoned with “Enforce Canon 915,” a section of church law that they believe requires the denial of Communion to Catholic politicians who support legal abortion.

The Catholic Church must do a better job instructing priests on what to do if a victim recounts his or her abuse in the confessional and in the unlikely case that an abuser confesses, said Hans Zollner, S.J.

“Journalism is not so much a matter of choosing a profession,” the pope said, “but rather of embarking on a mission, a bit like a doctor, who studies and works to cure evil in the world.”

The pope sent a letter of thanks to Michael O'Loughlin, America's national correspondent, this summer after receiving an advance copy of “Hidden Mercy: AIDS, Catholics, and the Untold Stories of Compassion in the Face of Fear.”