VATICAN CITY – The Pontifical Academy for Life is and always will be against abortion and is committed to involving increasing numbers of people in the defence of human life, said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, academy president.

ROME – The Eucharist is a tangible reminder of God's love, and receiving Communion is a call to work to build the body of Christ by loving others and shunning all that sows division within a community, Pope Francis said.

VATICAN CITY – The health of the Catholic Church can be measured in many ways, and the Vatican has a special office just for that purpose.

VATICAN CITY – The Institute for the Works of Religion, often referred to as the Vatican bank, made a profit of 36 million euros (about $53 million) in 2016, according to its annual report.

VATICAN CITY – Generosity, hard work, solidarity and a recognition of the dignity of the human person are essential for facing the major challenges posed by natural disasters, a large influx of migrants and a crisis in creating jobs, especially for young people, Pope Francis told Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is giving priests belonging to the Diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria, 30 days to write a letter promising obedience to him and accepting the bishop appointed for their diocese or they will be suspended.

VATICAN CITY – After meeting Pope Francis and seeing how moved he was by their description of the crisis gripping Venezuela, the leaders of the country's bishops' conference said they hoped the Pope would help draw the world's attention to the suffering of their people.

VATICAN CITY – Saying he was moved by reports of tens of thousands of people gathering for a funeral procession for Ukrainian Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, who died May 31, Pope Francis sent a second message of condolence to the cardinal's successor.

VATICAN CITY – The Holy Spirit continues to give Christians different gifts and to call them to share those gifts with each other in a community marked by forgiveness and "unity in diversity," Pope Francis said on Pentecost.

VATICAN CITY – Christians and Muslims, believers in one God, have an obligation to safeguard the world God created, said the Vatican's annual message to Muslims for the end of Ramadan.