The three Americans were among eight firefighters and 31 people total who have died in the wildfires since September.

Bishop Nelson J. Perez becomes the third Hispanic archbishop in the United States and the first to serve in this archdiocese.

Father Stephen Fichter spoke about the groundbreaking survey of U.S. bishops conducted by CARA in 2016 and first reported in America magazine in 2018.

Pope Francis told a group of U.S. bishops their job is to step back from partisan politics and help their faithful discern based on values.

Protecting human life is the "preeminent" social and political issue, Pope Francis said.

The plan would cede control over financial, human resources and governance functions to professional laity.