VATICAN – Meeting with a top Muslim leader in Saudi Arabia, the Vatican's chief interreligious dialogue official called for the equal treatment of people of all religions, saying discrimination and double standards based on religious affiliation only increase Islamophobia and Christianophobia.

VATICAN – Pope Francis joined leaders praising a French police officer who "gave his life out of a desire to protect people" during a terrorist attack.

LAGOS, Nigeria – Bishop Hilary Dachelem of Bauchi has appealed to the Nigerian government and security agencies to work for the rescue of the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in February.

LAS VEGAS – Hate and violence can not have the last word, said Las Vegas Bishop Joseph A. Pepe at an emotional interfaith prayer service a day after the mass killing of at least 59 concert goers on Oct. 1.

WASHINGTON – The nation has experienced "yet another night filled with unspeakable terror" and "we need to pray and to take care of those who are suffering," said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington.

VATICAN CITY – "Let us beg the Lord, God of mercy and peace, to free the world from this inhuman violence," Pope Francis prayed after a week of deadly terrorist attacks in Africa and Europe.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Catholic bishops appealed for a "return to normalcy and peace ... as soon as possible," as violence continues in the southern part of the country.

Whether opening a free laundromat for the homeless in Rome or shunning the palatial papal apartments in the Vatican, Pope Francis knows the power of symbolic messages.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis strongly condemned a shocking chemical attack in Syria that left some 70 people, including at least 10 children, dead.

MOSCOW, Russia – Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of Moscow offered his prayers and condolences following a deadly explosion in the St. Petersburg metro on Monday afternoon.

U.S. President Donald Trump denies he is about to authorize a ban on Muslim migration, saying he plans only restrictions on entry from countries with a history of terrorism.

CAIRO, Egypt – The Egyptian army corps of engineers has completed the restoration of Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, where a terrorist attack last month left 27 dead.

VATICAN CITY – On the first day of the new year and the 50th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis condemned a terrorist attack which took place in Istanbul early Sunday morning, praying for the victims, the injured and in support of everyone who works to fight violence and terrorism.

VATICAN CITY – What are being called two major acts of terrorism in just the past 24 hours have prompted Pope Francis to again beg for an even stronger commitment to putting such bloody attacks, which have marred many parts of the world over the past 18 months, to an end.

VATICAN CITY – While he was in town for a global meeting on the crisis in the Mediterranean region, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stopped by the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Francis that likely centred largely on the problem of migration.