For a Franciscan friar on a mission from Rome, a visit to peaceful areas in Syria provided a glimpse into a window of hope for the war-torn country.

The theory that well-being will automatically flow down to everyone from the riches of the few is "a lie," Pope Francis said.

How is it that God in heaven can hear the cries of the poor, but so many people watching or standing nearby either cannot or just do not care, Pope Francis asked.

The first family of superheroes returns in "Incredibles 2" (Disney), the highly anticipated sequel to a much-loved 2004 animated film.

Cautioning against complacency in carrying out the requirements of the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," the chairman of the National Review Board urged the country's bishops to "never waver" in their commitment to protect minors and vulnerable adults from sexual abuse.

The U.S. bishops June 13 decried U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision that asylum seekers fleeing domestic or gang violence cannot find protection in the United States.

The Diocese of Peoria has reacted with "great joy" to a decision by a New York court in favor of Joan Sheen Cunningham's petition to have the remains of her uncle, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, moved from New York City to Peoria.

Talks between the leaders of the United States and North Korea are "truly historic" and bring hope for the start of a new era of peace, said Pope Francis' ambassador to Korea.

The issue of LGBT families has dogged the ninth World Meeting of Families since it was revealed that an image of a gay couple was edited for a preparatory booklet, and Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David G. O'Connell's comments on gay families were deleted from a video.