Pope Francis said he intends to declare as a doctor of the church St. Irenaeus of Lyon, the second-century theologian known for his defense of orthodoxy amid the rise of gnostic sects.

Christians must be on guard and avoid the temptation of thinking themselves better than others, an attitude that risks turning the church into a place of “separation and not communion,” Pope Francis said.

Celebrating Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the pope encouraged Slovak Catholics to open their hearts to a faith that “identifies with those who are hurting, suffering and forced to bear heavy crosses.”

Pope Francis weighed in on the debate about whether politicians should be denied Communion because of their stance on abortion.

Pope Francis said he plans to make several papal trips before the end of the year, including to Scotland in early November to attend the U.N. Climate Change Conference.

The Jesuits, who have been in Afghanistan since 2004, have suspended their mission in the country “indefinitely.”

“Please; to be with Jesus is to be joyful, it is also to have the capacity that holiness gives us to have this sense of humor.”

“I join in the unanimous concern for the situation in Afghanistan. I ask all of you to pray with me to the God of peace, so that the clamor of weapons might cease and solutions can be found at the table of dialogue.”

While the Holy See continues to dialogue with the Chinese government, the church is proud of Catholics who have held on to their faith in the country, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

Pope Francis: “Let us remember that the church always has difficulties, always is in crisis, because she’s alive. Living things go through crises. Only the dead don’t have crises”