A concern among many of the 2,200 churchmen at Vatican II was to truly make Catholicism a “church of the poor,” as Pope John XXIII put it shortly before convening the council. The bishops who gathered for Mass at the catacombs that November evening were devoted to seeing that commitment become a reality.

If you want to know what it’s like to be a player at the Synod of Bishops and in the extracurricular socializing where much of the work is done, you have to read the blog of Australian Archbishop Mark Coleridge.

Archbishop Cupich recounted how the pope called him over during a break in the proceedings to chat. “He just looked so refreshed, calm, at peace,” Cupich said. “That, I think, is the attitude that we should all have."

Cupich cited a memorable line from Pope Francis’ speech to Congress, when the pontiff denounced the profits of the arms trade as “money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood.”

Back in Rome, Francis faces a bigger test than U.S. trip

Growing conservative disaffection appears to be taking a toll on his popularity.

Is this evidence of greater accountability under Pope Francis?

Itinerary shows Francis’ hope to be the leader of ‘a poor church for the poor.’

Liberation theology can no longer “remain in the shadows to which it has been relegated for some years.”

Everyone wants Congress to stop fighting and nbsp get nbsp working and that includes Pope Francis a top adviser said on April 29 in a preview of the pope rsquo s upcoming U S trip The Argentine-born pontiff has never been to the U S but he will make history in September as the first pope to add