Sixty-nine percent of young Americans between the ages of 15 and 34 favor a national health plan, known as a single-payer program.

This new catechumenate is necessary, Pope Francis said, because "you can't play around with love."

The archdiocese also is reeling from news earlier in October that the pope accepted the resignation of its leader, Cardinal Wuerl, who has been under fire after a mixed report on his handling of abuse cases.

The Adorers of the Blood of Christ have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether their religious freedom rights were violated by the construction and pending use of a natural gas pipeline through its land.

Throughout the discussions leading up to the synod's final week, small groups "have been very specific and intentional that we don't become too Western with our approach."

In a statement issued a few minutes after the broadcast of a story from Radio-Canada investigating sexual abuse allegedly committed by 10 Oblate missionaries in First Nation communities, the Quebec Assembly of Catholic Bishops told of their "indignation and shame" for the "terrible tragedy of sexual and physical abuse of minors by members of the clergy or religious communities."