In light of the June 26 United States Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage constitutional in all states of the US, here is a sampling of reaction collected this week by Catholic News Service.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, was among 46 prelates from around the world who concelebrated a special Mass in their honour with Pope Francis in Rome this week.
The Church wants pastors who are unafraid of persecution, are angels of hope and charity, and convincing witnesses with a life rooted in prayer and the Gospel, Pope Francis told the new archbishops.

The working document for this year’s Synod of Bishops on the family called for expanded discussion and pastoral solutions to challenges such as how economic disparity and environmental degradation affect families as well as the impact of infertility, aging and disability.

Rome’s St John Lateran square was literally bursting at the seams on Saturday 20 June as more than a million people gathered in support of the family and to protest against the introduction of “gender ideology” in schools.

Father Ray Kelly has been a Catholic priest for 25 years and has always loved to sing but when he decided to surprise a wedding couple with his tailored rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah on 5 April last year, his whole world changed.

Children need to see their parents kiss each other, complement each other and resolve arguments peacefully, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis has approved a new Vatican department which will judge bishops accused of covering up or not preventing the sexual abuse of children.

To overcome fear, discrimination and conflict, people must have a deep desire to open themselves up to God and His mercy, and work actively for peace every day, Pope Francis said.

Church leaders cannot be indifferent to the plight of immigrants, and it is “inexcusable” not to promote co-operation between a host nation and countries of origin, Pope Francis has told bishops from the Dominican Republic.

Some thought this day would never arrive. Others hoped, and some always knew it would. Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez, of El Salvador, who was assassinated in 1980 while celebrating Mass just a day after pleading and ordering soldiers to stop killing innocent civilians, was beatified on May 23.