Today the Pope arrived in Philadelphia for the final leg of his visit to the US. In his first homily here, he called for a recognition of the immense contribution of women to Christian communities

In his fifth address to the United Nations, Francis said we need to ensure that our institutions take action. Defending the environment and combating exclusion are actions that require “absolute respect for life in all its stages and dimensions”. No drug trafficking and to nuclear proliferation which would transform the UN into “nations united by fear and distrust”. No to “military and political interventions which are not coordinated between members of the international community”. And the Pope also sent out an appeal for Christians and all other persecuted minorities.

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.