Catholic News Service

The religiosity of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the favorite to win Mexico's presidential election this July, is in the spotlight, even if understanding is hampered by his deliberate ambiguity.

El Salvador's bishops urged lawmakers to discard any plans for privatizing water in the Central American country, saying the poor could not afford to pay the cost of a vital necessity.

Arriving on his second visit to Chile, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta said his mission to the country is a sign of Pope Francis' closeness to the local church following devastating reports of sexual abuse and cover-ups by members of the clergy.

More dangerous than "concrete problems" are being unwilling to find a way to adapt, settling for the status quo, and fear, Pope Francis told young people at his general audience June 13.

The American Medical Association House of Delegates voted 314-243 not to affirm the report of the organization's ethics council to maintain the AMA's long-held opposition to assisted suicide.

Over the course of nine days in May, more than 9,000 patients received free medical, dental, ophthalmological and/or veterinary care as part of Operation Empower Health -- Greater Savannah.

Fr. Richmond Villaflor Nilo of Cabanatuan Diocese was gunned down inside a chapel in Zaragoza June 10 as he was about to celebrate Mass, reported ucanews.com.

Pope Francis told Italian schoolchildren that he grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, "the most beautiful city in the world," and that besides playing soccer, he loved to fly kites as a child.

Spain has announced it will let a ship holding 629 migrants and refugees, who were rescued from the Mediterranean, dock on its shores, after Italy and Malta refused to accept the vessel.

Leading thousands of people in prayer, Pope Francis said he hoped the upcoming summit between the United States and North Korea would lead to lasting peace.

The world needs a new kind of leadership that believes in building up the whole human family and protecting the environment, Pope Francis told a group of energy and oil executives and global investors.

A Vatican court indicted Msgr. Carlo Alberto Capella, a former staff member at the Vatican nunciature in Washington, and ordered him to stand trial beginning June 22 on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography.A Vatican court indicted Msgr. Carlo Alberto Capella, a former staff member at the Vatican nunciature in Washington, and ordered him to stand trial beginning June 22 on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography.

If Pope Francis ever plans an apostolic trip to space, he's all set after receiving a custom-made blue flight suit with patches of the Argentine flag, his papal coat of arms and a pair of angel wings with his crew name, Jorge M. Bergoglio.

"When Jesus wants to teach us how a Christian should be, he tells us very little," the pope said, but he shows people by feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger.

"My dream is that from this crisis, we are able to learn and renew the church, I want the laity in Chile to help to make a new, better church."

Laws requiring Catholic priests to break the seal of confession in some cases passed the Australian Capital Territory's Legislative Assembly in Canberra June 7.

The public comment period on the Protect Life Rule, a proposed revision to Title X regulations to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion-related services, opened June 1 and will close July 31.

None of the stories were pretty. The three panelists at a Tucson workshop on "Perspectives on Border Life" told stories from three perspectives during a workshop held June 1, the last day of CLINIC's annual meeting.

The bishop of Toledo said of a recent immigration raid that "no matter our political persuasion, when families are broken apart, as in this raid, we should all recognize that the common good is not served."

Fr. Rey Urmeneta, a Catholic priest who once served as chaplain of the Philippine National Police, was wounded after a gun attack June 6 in Calamba City, about 25 miles from Manila.