Sitting in front of a replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà — the sculpture of Mary holding her crucified son — the bishops of the Atlanta province signed a joint statement June 27 urging “decisive action” on legislation to curb gun violence.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision June 29 in favor of a former postal worker who said he was denied a religious accommodation to observe Christian precepts on keeping holy the Lord’s Day by his former employer.

After more than two dozen Catholic Democratic House lawmakers signed a “statement of principles” advocating for abortion access that cited tenets of their faith as their rationale, the U.S. bishops and other Catholics pushed back, arguing their position was contrary to church teaching.

The head of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon has refuted media reports that the archdiocese’s recent closure of its Catholic schools office is related to a gender identity theory document published by the archdiocese in January.

Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi met with a Kremlin foreign policy adviser during the peace mission he is making to Moscow on Pope Francis’s behalf.

In the mold of Sts. Peter and Paul, Catholics are called to be members of a church that constantly follows Jesus and proclaims his word by putting preaching at the center of its ministry, Pope Francis said.

Like every saint, St. Peter was not a superhero, he was just a real, imperfect person who generously said, “yes” to Jesus, Pope Francis said.

As Catholic schools worldwide face several challenges — including declining enrollments, funding or maintaining a distinctive religious character — the Vatican has urged religious orders, dioceses and laypeople to come together to “take risks” and be creative in finding solutions.

Christians must welcome the Holy Spirit as the guide leading the whole Christian community toward unity, Pope Francis said.

Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi was scheduled to meet with a Kremlin foreign policy adviser during the peace mission he is making to Moscow on Pope Francis’s behalf, the Kremlin said.