Christians should pray on Pentecost that the Holy Spirit would give them the courage and strength to share the Gospel, Pope Francis said.

At a time when Vatican-Chinese relations are strained because of apparent differences over an agreement to name bishops, the pope publicly marked the annual World Day of Prayer for the Catholic Church in China May 24, the feast of Mary, Help of Christians, “venerated and invoked at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai.”

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles called on “all Catholics and people of goodwill to stand against bigotry and hate in any form” after the Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated plans to honor a self-described “leading-edge order of queer and trans nuns.”

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a May 23 report revealing decades of abuse by Catholic clergy against almost 2,000 children.

A new report from the Public Religion Research Institute titled “Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval” casts a shadow of doubt on the fervor of Americans, only 16 percent of whom reported to PRRI that religion is the most important thing in their lives.

“War is a pandemic. It involves us all,” said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Italian prelate chosen by Pope Francis to lead an initiative for peace in Ukraine.

Washington Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory in remarks May 17 at an interfaith dialogue echoed the pope’s emphasis on encountering, listening to, talking with and learning from others to build bridges of solidarity, understanding and peace.

In anticipation of the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea, Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, celebrated Mass in Washington to remember seafarers who have lost their lives at sea and to pray for all who work the sea and their families.

After criticism from Catholic groups and local fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers removed a self-described “leading-edge order of queer and trans nuns” from its list of honorees at its annual Pride Night celebration in June.

The moving story of Nicole Duque and Austin LeBlanc, a local pro-life couple and active members of St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit and St. Mary Parish in Wayne, Mich., has captured the attention of the community.