Pope Francis greets bishops as he arrives at Bozzolo, near Cremona, northern Italy, to pray at the tomb of Don Primo Mazzolari, on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Pope Francis is making a pilgrimage to northern Italy to honor two 20th-century parish priests whose commitment to the poor and powerless brought them censure from the Vatican. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Pope honors ‘rebel’ priests censured by the Vatican for their commitment to the poor

by Nicole Winfield - Associated Press and Antonio Calanni - Associated Press June 20, 2017

Pope Francis made the pilgrimage to honor two 20th-century parish priests whose commitment to the poor and powerless brought them censure from the Vatican.

Pope Francis smiles with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer, left, on the occasion of their private audience, at the Vatican, Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Ettore Ferrari/Pool Photo via AP)

Politics & Society, Vatican Dispatch

Pope Francis encourages Chancellor Merkel to continue the fight against climate change

by Gerard O’Connell June 17, 2017

This was the pope and chancellor’s sixth meeting.

Archbishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako, Mali, is among five new cardinals to be created by Pope Francis at a June 28 Vatican consistory. (CNS photo/Nicolas Remene, EPA)

Dispatches, Faith

New cardinals express church universality

by Kevin Clarke June 15, 2017

Pope Francis will create five new cardinals at a consistory in Rome scheduled for June 28.

Pope Francis waves during an evening prayer vigil with young people at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on April 8. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

Faith, News

What’s the health of the Catholic Church? The Vatican has an office with answers

by Cindy Wooden - Catholic News Service June 15, 2017

The yearbook tracks the Catholic population, both by a head count of the baptized in each country and as a percentage of the world’s population.

In this Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd from the window of the Pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where he will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Faith, News

An inside look at the lives of two former popes, and the breakfasts they ate

by Monika Scislowska - Associated Press June 15, 2017

John Paul liked scrambled eggs on bacon for breakfast. Benedict spent his free time playing the piano, reading, listening to classical music.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa, lays hands on Deacon Andy Galles during his ordination into the priesthood on June 3 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. (CNS photo/Jerry L Mennenga)

Faith, News

Local leaders could soon decide which deacons can become priests

by Junno Arocho Esteves - Catholic News Service June 14, 2017

Pope Francis and members of his international Council of Cardinals discussed the possibility of allowing local bishops rather than the Vatican decide on certain matters.