As the capital of Italy and center of Catholicism, the city of Rome must work with the Catholic Church to preserve and defend its rich historical and spiritual traditions, Pope Francis said.

The Peruvian cardinal was in Rome for a conference sponsored by the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishop centered on the topics that will be discussed at the synod Oct. 6-27.

The summit began Feb. 21 with the harrowing stories of survivors of sexual abuse, cover-up and rejection by church officials.

The delegation was in Rome to solicit the support of the Italian government in recognizing Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.

Recalling his February 3-5 visit to Abu Dhabi, Pope Francis reflected on how, despite the diversity of cultures and traditions, Islam and Christianity do have common values.

Lisbon, Portugal, will open its doors to the world's young people in 2022 for the next World Youth Day.

"Are you willing to be an 'influencer' like Mary, who dared to say, 'Let it be done'?" he asked. "Only love makes us more human and fulfilled; everything else is a pleasant but useless placebo."

While sharing a private lunch with pilgrims from around the world, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy and emphasized the need for unity and prayer, a U.S. pilgrim said.

The pope said the road to Calvary is "a way of suffering and solitude" that is "prolonged in a society that has lost the ability to weep and to be moved by suffering."

Speaking to young detainees at a penitential liturgy in Las Garzas de Pacora Juvenile Detention Center in Panama Jan. 25, the pope said society creates "an adjective culture" that prefers to immediately label people as good or bad rather than truly getting to know them.