A flare-up of sciatica has caused Pope Francis to cancel several appearances in the coming days.

The Catholic physician and researcher Jerome Lejeune devoted his life to protecting unborn children with Down syndrome from so-called “therapeutic abortion.”

These were the first such suicide bombings since June 2019 and came on the eve of the pope’s planned visit to the country on March 5-8, a visit that now is under serious question.

Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S.C.C.B., wished the new president well, but he also condemned the nation’s second Catholic president’s support for abortion rights.

Pope Francis' remarks from his general audience on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

In a message to the second Catholic president, Pope Francis prayed that Joe Biden would work to heal the divisions in U.S. society and promote human dignity and peace around the globe.