Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Denis Hart, has last week called for an end to the offshore detention of refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island.

Emergency aid slowly began to reach some of the thousands of Haitians displaced by Hurricane Matthew in the country’s picturesque southwest as reports of casualties slowly trickled in from communities cut off by the storm.

Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia Dr Maria Harries AM last Friday announced the appointment of Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO as Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services Australia.

Pope Francis said a global war against marriage is underway and Catholics must respond by helping couples stay strong and by providing pastoral care to those experiencing difficulty.

Journalists must not foment fear when covering issues or events such as forced migration due to war or famine, Pope Francis has said.

Pope Francis donned a green hospital gown over his white cassock and entered the neonatal unit of a Rome hospital, peering in the incubators, making the sign of the cross and encouraging worried parents.

Do not treat evangelisation as a simple mechanical task or a reason to brag, Pope Francis has said last week.

With a large tapestry bearing the portrait of the woman known as the ‘Saint of the Gutters’ suspended above him, Pope Francis proclaimed the sainthood of Mother Teresa of Kolkata, hailing her courage and love for the poor.

After a strong earthquake struck central Italy and with the early news reporting many deaths and serious damage, Pope Francis turned his weekly general audience on 24 August into a prayer service.

The “narrow gate” to salvation described by Jesus isn’t narrow because God is oppressive, but because pride bloats Christians and prevents them from entering God’s merciful embrace, Pope Francis has said.