The Vatican supports efforts to build stronger and sustainable essential health care services on the way toward achieving universal health coverage, a Vatican official said.

Andrea Tornielli, the new editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication, was commenting on Pope Francis' remarks Jan. 24 to the bishops of Central America about Catholics losing compassion.

The pope described St. Óscar Romero as one of the “prophetic fruits of the church in Central America.”

The Swiss Guards used the new helmets during a special ceremony Jan. 22 at the Vatican commemorating the 513th anniversary of their foundation.

How World Youth Day is changing the church

The president of China's state-sanctioned bishops' conference has pledged to work with the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association to develop the Sinicization of religion in the communist nation.