Brian Burch, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, defended the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid at a Senate hearing April 8 on his nomination.

Jesus loves people as they are, not based on their merit or righteousness, said the text for Pope Francis’ weekly general audience.

As Ukraine experienced a deadly weekend with a barrage of attacks from Russia on Kryvyi Rih and Kyiv, the capital, the papal almoner handed a gift from Pope Francis — four ambulances — to local authorities in Zaporizhzhia.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., and named Bishop William Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Mo., as his successor.

As Pope Francis continues his recovery at the Vatican, he is very slowly beginning to get back to his old routine of meeting with top Vatican officials, the Vatican press office said.

The multicultural composition of the Salesian order is a gift that the priests and brothers should use in their service to the church and the world, and particularly to young people in need, Pope Francis said.

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, was driving one of four ambulances donated to Ukraine with the help of U.S. Catholics.

“Seeds of Peace and Hope” is the theme for the World Day of Prayer for Creation, which will be celebrated Sept. 1.

With thousands of infirmed people and those who care for them gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis, seated in a wheelchair and wearing a nasal cannula, made an unexpected appearance to greet the crowd.

The Vatican and Russian foreign ministers discussed “initiatives aimed at stopping the military actions” in Ukraine during a phone call April 4.