Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, the older brother of Benedict XVI, died on July 1 at the age of 96.

Vatican officials said the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon aims to be “an effective channel for taking up, from within the territory, many of the proposals that emerged” at the Pan-Amazonian synod.

Polish Catholics have appealed to Pope Francis for help in "rebuilding" the Polish church amid the continuing controversy over that country's episcopate mishandling of the sex abuse crisis.

Peter and Paul, Pope Francis noted, provide valuable role models to encourage us toward unity and prophecy.

Both prayers and economic assistance, Pope Francis stressed, are needed to ameliorate the ongoing humanitarian catastrophes in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

At the Church of the Gesú in Rome, Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., ordained 18 deacons and two priests who have been studying in Rome.