Vatican

After battling traffic for an hour, Pope Francis arrived at St. Mary, Mother of Hospitality parish on the far eastern edge of Rome for a meeting with area priests and a visit with people housed in 12 apartments the parish owns.

A Catholic pilgrimage, especially a pilgrimage to Marian shrines, should help people grow in their commitment to be missionary disciples, Pope Francis said.

The holiness of individuals and families gives life to the entire Catholic community, Pope Francis said.

Christian hope “is the celebration of the love of the risen Christ, who is always at our side, even when he seems far from us,” the pope said in his annual message for local celebrations of World Youth D

The removal of Bishop Joseph E. Strickland from pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, is an administrative rather than penal action, a canon law scholar told OSV News.

Pope Francis has removed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, the Holy See Press Office announced Nov. 11. Simultaneously, Francis has appointed Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin as apostolic administrator to oversee the diocese until a new bishop is appointed.

During on an official visit to Australia, one of the Vatican’s top diplomats affirmed the importance of religious freedom in promoting peace and resolving global conflicts.