Two books make a persuasive case for the “relational unity” between powerful fields of human thought — facts vs. faith.

Joseph W. Pfeifer’s book, “Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11” (Penguin Random House), published last year, won a Christopher Award in June. The awards, first presented in 1949 by the Christophers organization, founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, are presented annually for works that embody “the highest values of humanity.”

The Jesuits at the Vatican Observatory were wowed like most people by the beauty of the photos from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, but the director said they also are excited by the scientific information the telescope will reveal.

Religious orders must never tolerate the abuse of children or vulnerable persons, and they must end the practice of moving alleged abusers to other countries, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis said all the speeches he has prepared for his trip to Canada “begin and end” with asking forgiveness.

The way Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio sees it, the only thing to blame is the system, and the tragedies in Texas are part of a bigger and complex problem, he said in a July 8 interview with Catholic News Service.

The care of the environment and the fight against climate change is not a lofty goal for humanity but a moral imperative, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis said he plans to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in September at an interreligious meeting in Kazakhstan.

Ten days after saying he would name two women to the group that helps him choose bishops, Pope Francis appointed three women to the office.

A congressman urged the OSCE’s nearly 60 member nations to step up their efforts to implement and strengthen laws combating modern-day slavery.