Russell Brand is facing two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, the Metropolitan Police Service of the United Kingdom announced April 4.

The French bishops’ conference is entering a new era under Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille, following his election as president. This transition comes after years of focus on abuse reform and safeguarding.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it would not renew its cooperative agreements with the federal government related to children’s services and refugee support after its longstanding partnerships with the federal government in those areas became “untenable.”

Livia Tossici-Bolt, a retired scientist, was found guilty at an April 4 trial of infringing a 492-feet, or 15-meter, exclusion or “buffer” zone around an abortion clinic in Bournemouth, a town on the south coast of England.

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 Polish bishops’ conference established the “Dzielo Nowego Tysiaclecia” (“The Work of a New Millenium”) foundation in the Jubilee Year 2000. Today, 20 years after John Paul’s death on April 2, 2005, it’s called the “best living monument” of the pope, granting scholarships to talented youth, who are everything from musicians to doctors, and inventors to sportsmen.

Young people are especially drawn to Blessed Carlo, who will be canonized April 27.