The high-profile Vatican trial was put on hold after Vatican prosecutors failed to present their evidence to the defendants before submitting it in court.

Father Tong succeeds the current provincial, Stephen Chow, S.J., whom Pope Francis appointed as the new bishop of Hong Kong on May 17.

In an unprecedented response to the “grave threat” facing all peoples worldwide from climate change, Pope Francis and some 40 faith leaders have joined in an appeal for urgent action.

“I personally deserve attacks and insults because I am a sinner, but the church does not deserve them. They are the work of the devil,” the pope said to the Jesuits of Slovakia on his recent trip.

It was a significant revelation from Pope Francis, coming at a time when a group of bishops in the United States are pushing to deny Communion to pro-choice politicians, including President Joe Biden.

Pope Francis weighed in on the debate about whether politicians should be denied Communion because of their stance on abortion.