Pope Francis asked God's forgiveness for the failures of the Catholic Church during the 1994 Rwanda genocide and for the hatred and violence perpetrated by some priests and religious.

When Pope Francis affirms basic Christian principles, he is not singling out one person or nation, but he definitely is not excluding them either.

Three men have publicly accused Archbishop Apuron of sexually abusing them when they were altar boys in the 1970s

The intention to change "is exactly the theological element that allows absolution and access to the Eucharist as long as there is the impossibility of immediately changing the situation of sin."

The statement came after a handful of public challenges to Pope Francis' teaching and authority

"Every effort must be made to eradicate this shameful and intolerable crime (of human trafficking)," Pope Francis said.

The pope called on journalists to stop feeding the "vicious cycle of anxiety" and "spiral of fear."

The pope asked Assad "to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid."

"We are united in the blood of our martyrs," Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis said the "richest experience" of the church operating in a way that is not strictly "top down" came from the two meetings of the Synod of Bishops on the family.