Executives from the apologetics nonprofit Catholic Answers told OSV News they remain committed to exploring artificial intelligence after the launch of the group’s “Father Justin” AI project sparked intense backlash online — and resulted in the character’s swift “laicization” to just “Justin.”

The reform projects launched by Pope Francis — reforming not just institutions like the Roman Curia, but attitudes and pastoral approaches — will not be reversed, even though some may take different forms in the future, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

A new AI priest, launched by a Catholic teaching apostolate to answer questions about the faith, has been “laicized” after sparking more backlash than belief online.

Pope Francis sat down exclusively with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell on April 24 for an interview ahead of the Vatican’s inaugural “World Children’s Day.” The CBS interview marks the first time a pope has given an in-depth, one-on-one interview to a U.S. broadcast network, according to the network.

Peace begins when each person decides to accept it as a gift and live at peace with everyone throughout the day, Pope Francis said.

Arizona’s Republican-controlled House voted April 24 to repeal the state’s 1864 law banning abortion recently upheld by that state’s Supreme Court. Republicans in the state Senate recently allowed that chamber to proceed to a repeal vote, meaning that chamber could soon follow suit.

The Supreme Court on April 24 weighed a potential conflict between Idaho’s abortion restrictions and federal law governing emergency health care.

President Joe Biden on April 24 said the U.S. will begin sending military aid to Ukraine within “the next few hours” after he signed legislation sent to him by Congress approving $95 billion in foreign aid to provide weapons and support to key U.S. allies including Ukraine and Israel — as well as billions in humanitarian aid — after a monthslong process.

A bill recently signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been described by a farmworker advocate as “inhumane” and draconian.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat from Georgia, said he and Pope Francis prayed together when they met at the Vatican April 20.