The Walker family departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, in March. Their goal was to reach Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

More than 30 European Catholic justice and peace commissions have pledged their support of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and said they were grateful Pope Francis called the goals an "important sign of hope."

Pope Francis arrived in the United States the late afternoon of Sept. 22 to begin his first apostolic journey as pontiff.

Since the pope's encyclical on climate, "Laudato Si'," college presidents have been adding their names to the pledge, stating that they will work together regionally and globally "to study, promote and act on the ideals and vision of integral ecology laid out by Pope Francis."

U.S. President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro and the Vatican have called for a lifting of the embargo, which was first put in place in 1960 and repeatedly strengthened in the years since.

"The people of California—especially the poor, the elderly, minorities and the disabled—deserve much better from their leaders," the archbishop said. "And make no mistake, it will be these most vulnerable populations who are going to suffer from this legislation."

The European Union must adopt a common asylum policy "without delay" because it is unacceptable for refugees to "drown and suffocate" at the fringes of the bloc, said the European bishops.

Workers across India are upset about labor policies they say are detrimental to their welfare, said Bishop Oswald Lewis of Jaipur.

Pope Francis held a "virtual town hall" with Catholics in Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas, in advance of his Sept. 22-27 visit to the United States.

Pope Francis held a "virtual town hall" with Catholics in Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas, in advance of his Sept. 22-27 visit to the United States.The town hall was arranged by ABC News, which was to air portions of the meeting during its "World News Tonight" program Aug