Synodality is a key theme of Pope Francis’ pontificate and its importance to the church’s mission can be seen in the American church’s response to policy issues including migration, said experts in a Georgetown University panel discussion marking the pontiff’s 11th anniversary.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is offering a March 10-18 novena to the foster father of Jesus, ahead of the saint’s March 19 feast day.

Three Egyptian Coptic monks of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of South Africa were murdered March 12 in their monastery in Cullinan, a small town in Gauteng province, about 18 miles east of the capital, Pretoria.

A federal judge March 8 dismissed a challenge from Republican-led states, allowing the Biden administration to continue operating a program permitting some migrants from four countries to enter the U.S. on humanitarian grounds.

The Catholic Church should hold a Synod of Bishops devoted exclusively to defining just war, just defense and just peace, said the president of the Institute of Religion and Society at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.

Catholic clergy from Egypt have warned that ties with Orthodox and Islamic leaders are being derailed by a Vatican decision to allow the blessing of same-sex couples, after the country’s influential Coptic Orthodox Church suspended dialogue over the issue.

The saints are not unreachable “exceptions of humanity” but ordinary people who worked diligently to grow in virtue, Pope Francis said.

A state judge March 11 temporarily blocked the Texas attorney general’s demands for the records of Annunciation House, citing concerns the state had a “predetermined” motive to shut down the Catholic nonprofit serving migrants.

The work of protecting minors and other vulnerable people in the Catholic Church involves holding those in positions of power accountable for the abuse the commit, Pope Francis said.

The Mexican bishops’ conference, the Society of Jesus and the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious of Mexico convened the country’s three presidential candidates March 11 to sign their National Agenda for Peace — a roadmap for pacifying Mexico and the starting point for dialogue with the next government.