Recalling his abduction and two-year captivity, Father Maccalli told Vatican News that during that time, "tears were my bread for many days and were my prayer when I didn't know what to say."

Mass attendance and Catholic affiliation have been eroding steadily since the 1970s for all income brackets, but the sharpest decline has been among the two bottom economic quartiles.

Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said the release of Father Maccalli as the church is preparing to celebrate World Mission Sunday Oct. 18 “is a great sign of hope for us, for Africa and for the universal church.”

Domenico Sorrentino speaks to America about Pope Francis' deep devotion to St. Francis of Assisi. The pope will sign his new encyclical, "Fratelli Tutti," in Assisi on Saturday, Oct. 3.

It is some comfort to recall that Catholics have already survived many difficult periods like our own.

A new proposal for how Christians can engage a post-Christian American politics.