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Pope Francis addresses mayors from around the world at a workshop on climate change and human trafficking in the synod hall at the Vatican July 21. Local government leaders were invited by the pontifical academies of sciences and social sciences to sign a declaration recognizing that climate change and extreme poverty are influenced by human activity. Also pictured is Cardinal Francesco Montenegro of Agrigento, Italy.

Mayors discuss ways to promote equality, environmental protection

VATICAN CITY - Many of the mayors who met July 21 with Pope Francis stayed at the Vatican for a second day of discussions focused on city planning that promotes economic growth, equality and environmental protection simultaneously.

Using a new accounting reporting standard, The Vatican discovered a profit of over $53 million after paying back its deficit. The revenue mostly came from Vatican Museums, pictured above, “cultural activities” and investments.

Vatican looks under the cushions and finds $1.3 billion in assets

VATICAN CITY - The Holy See is more than a billion dollars richer than previously known and the Vatican turned a 2014 profit of CDN $53.4 million, according to figures released on July 16.

Vatican court delays abuse trial after ex-nuncio hospitalized

Vatican court delays abuse trial after ex-nuncio hospitalized

VATICAN CITY - Vatican magistrates have decided to postpone the proceedings of a criminal trial against a former Vatican nuncio due to the defendant's ill health.

Kites in the form of birds are flown by environmental activists in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 28. Some 1,500 people marched to the Vatican in support of Pope Francis' recent encyclical on the environment.

Thousands march in Rome to show support for Pope Francis’ call for climate action

ROME - Religious leaders from across the globe led a “Many Faiths — One Planet” march to the Vatican June 28, to show their support of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking environmental encyclical.

The Pope in his encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home," released June 18, said all creation is singing God's praise but people are silencing it.

Francis opens dialogue on our common home

Pope Francis has given the world a choice between “debris, desolation and filth” or “a serene harmony with creation.” The path we take, both individually and on a global scale, depends upon a clear-eyed view of reality and the deep connection we experience as God’s creatures with one another, with our world and with God.

What kind of world will we leave our children?

What kind of world will we leave our children?

On June 18, Pope Francis released his long-anticipated encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.

The Fr. James Corkery, theology professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University; the Fr. Hans Zollner, president of the Pontifical Gregorian University’s Centre for Child Protection; Bishop Edward J. Burns, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committee on child protection; Sr. Sara Butler, president of the Academy of Catholic Theology; and Philippa Hitchen, journalist at Vatican Radio, speak to the press during a conference on how to handle the current clergy sex abuse crisis.

Rome summit looks to improve church’s handling of child sexual abuse

ROME - As the Vatican continues to work on policies to combat clergy sex abuse, a leading pontifical university in Rome hosted a conference this week on how the Catholic Church can better address the current crisis and released details of a new diploma program on protecting children.

ope Francis greets a child during a gathering with young people in Piazza Vittorio in Turin, Italy, June 21.

Pope tells parents to be mindful of children's suffering

VATICAN CITY - The deep hurts that spouses inflict on each other cause great suffering to their children and, in some cases, lead to a separation that is "morally necessary" to protect spouses and children from more serious forms of violence, Pope Francis said during his general audience in St. Peter's Square June 24.

Pope Francis talks with Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi following the concluding session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican in this Oct. 18, 2014, file photo.

Synod working document expands scope of family issues, pastoral needs

VATICAN CITY - The working document for this fall'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.

Pope Francis visits the Shroud of Turin in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, June 21.

Pope Francis contemplates Shroud of Turin, calls it 'icon of love'

VATICAN CITY - It took place in silence and lasted only a few minutes, but Pope Francis' time of prayer and contemplation before the Shroud of Turin was marked with gestures of reverence and tenderness.

Pope Francis calls on the faithful and “people of good” to take steps to mitigate climate change and treat all of creation with respect and concern in his encyclical released June 18.

People are destroying the earth, Pope says in encyclical

[Read the Pope's encyclical on the environment here.]

VATICAN CITY - The earth, which was created to support life and give praise to God, is crying out with pain because human activity is destroying it, Pope Francis says in his long-awaited encyclical, Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home.

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