For the first time ever, a Pope has spoken at Capitol Hill: in a world ravaged by conflict and fundamentalism we must not simplify reality, seeing everything in black and white. We should not be afraid of immigrant numbers but look them in the face. Human life must be defended “at every stage of its development” and the death penalty abolished. More needs to be done to combat poverty and stop the arms trade. We must help the family “which is threatened, perhaps as never before”

Pope Francis has canonized the controversial Franciscan Fr. Junipero Serrase.

Pope Francis has canonized the controversial Franciscan Fr. Junipero Serra, claiming that the 18th-century missionary to what would become the western United States protected and defended Native Americans from mistreatment and abuse.

In the first canonization Mass ever held on U.S. soil, attended by tens of thousands outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the pontiff said that Serra followed Jesus' call to go forth and proclaim the Gospel.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) highly valued the speech delivered recently by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, during his meeting with citizens of the Irbid Governorate, terming the speech as “historic’’.

At the White House Francis quoted Martin Luther King, backed Barack Obama’s environmental efforts, praised the US’s reconciliation with Cuba and asked the president to always defend and preserve religious freedom, alluding to the controversy over health reform, which obliges Catholic structures to include abortion in healthcare cover

In the interview on board the flight from Cuba to the US Francis spoke about the criticisms against his magisterium: “Everything I say is contained in the Church’s social doctrine.” Regarding the US embargo against Cuba he said: “I hope an agreement can be reached that satisfies both sides.” About Cuba’s dissidents, he commented: “Some were invited for a greeting at the cathedral. None of them introduced themselves as dissidents, I have no news of any arrests.” With Fidel “we spoke about the “Laudato Si’” and his Jesuit teacher”.

Interview with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry: “We want to destroy ISIS. Russia cannot continue to support Assad”.

Q: The United States and the Holy See have been working together with success on several issues of common interest, from Cuba to the Middle East. Why is the visit by Pope Francis important, do you see now the possibility to lift the embargo against Cuba, and what are the next peace initiatives the United States and the Holy See could work on together in the future?

Interview with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry: “We want to destroy ISIS. Russia cannot continue to support Assad”.

Q: The United States and the Holy See have been working together with success on several issues of common interest, from Cuba to the Middle East. Why is the visit by Pope Francis important, do you see now the possibility to lift the embargo against Cuba, and what are the next peace initiatives the United States and the Holy See could work on together in the future?

In the 230-some-year history of the United States, papal visits have been rare and very recent. The first pope to visit America was Pope Paul VI in 1965. Largely unknown, however, was a near-papal visit three decades earlier, when, in November 1936, a prominent Vatican official named Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli arrived on U.S. shores after setting sail all the way from Naples.

Francis celebrates mass in Havana’s Plaza della Revolución, inviting Cubans not to neglect their brothers and sisters “for plans which can be seductive, but are unconcerned about the face of the person “beside you. At the Angelus, the Pope appealed for a peaceful solution to the military conflict between FARC forces and the Colombian government

In his first speech in Havana, in the presence of Raúl Castro, Francis greets Fidel, encourages the process that led to the re-establishment of diplomatic ties with Washington and calls for freedom and resources for the Church in Cuba. Tomorrow Francis will meet Fidel at his residence.