Forty-five years ago, on June 2, St. John Paul II started his first papal pilgrimage to his native Poland, then shackled by a communist dictatorship. The visit had not only an enormous impact on the spiritual renewal of the Polish nation, paving the way for democratic changes, but it also inspired future freedom fighters in other parts of the Soviet empire.

Stressing openness and mercy, Francis’ emphasis has been on welcoming everyone into the church, and if a mess is made along the way, so be it.

U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Joe Donnelly will leave his post in July, the embassy announced.

The first years of priesthood are challenging, and the best way to survive and thrive is through closeness to God, to one’s bishop, one’s fellow priests and to one’s parishioners, Pope Francis told priests who have been ordained less than 10 years.

Christians cannot share a vision that sees migrants as threats to society or as a cause for fear, Pope Francis said in a video meditation.

The social and political problems plaguing modern society can be resolved only by allowing the Holy Spirit to heal humanity’s inner turmoil, Pope Francis said.

Christians and Buddhists must be willing to work together to “bring a ray of hope to a desperate humanity,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who were offended by the use of a term, reported by others,” that is considered vulgar in Italian, the Vatican press office said.

Living out the missionary dimension of the faith never means trying to forcefully convert people to Catholicism, Pope Francis said.

Entrusting to God’s mercy all of their comrades-in-arms who have died serving their countries and defending peace, Pope Francis urged Catholic members of the military to let their faith inform their service.