Catholic News Service

Catholic environmental activists participating in the Laudato Si' Movement in Africa matched their words with actions, mounting cleanup efforts and educational programs as part of the observance of World Environment Day.

"Wrinkles are a sign of experience, a sign of life, a sign of maturity, a sign of having made a journey. Do not touch them to become young," the pope said June 8 at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Marking the 100th day of Russia's war against Ukraine, Pope Francis again called for international efforts to stop the aggression, respect human life and end "the macabre destruction of cities and villages" in the country.

Fra' Marco Luzzago, who led the Knights of Malta since late 2020, died at the age of 71, the order announced.

Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, remarked on the unique role deacons have in the Catholic Church in a statement issued June 2 with the results of an annual survey that provides a portrait of the permanent diaconate in the U.S.

Catholic leaders expressed disappointment with a June 6 ruling by a federal judge in Oklahoma calling the state's three-drug lethal injection method constitutional.

U.S. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, will chair the Vatican's new Investment Committee, the Vatican press office announced.

In response to the multiple mass shootings in recent weeks, the chairmen of four U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' committees sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to "stop the massacres of innocent lives."

Sitting in a wheelchair in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis allowed himself to be grilled by a group of youngsters, including one who asked when he would go to Ukraine "to save all the children who are suffering there."

This year's Society of Catholic Scientists conference was an intimate gathering with the theme of environmental stewardship linked to the papal encyclical "Laudato Si'." Speakers discussed Catholic environmentalism going back to the fourth century, and topics such as soil conservation, the preservation of tropical forests, the importance of bees and genetic advances used to conserve wild animal populations.

The Philadelphia Archdiocese has paid close to $78.5 million of a total of more than $81 million awarded to 438 victims of sexual abuse by archdiocesan clergy under the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program, which released its final report June 2.

Pope Francis on June 5 appealed to world leaders to start "real negotiations" to end to the war on Ukraine and avoid bringing the world to ruin.

When the Vatican announced Pope Francis would travel to L'Aquila in central Italy Aug. 28 to open a seven-centuries-old celebration of forgiveness, people on social media began speculating that the pope would resign. But the L'Aquila archdiocese has been clear that the papal sojourn is more about expressing care for the people in the earthquake-prone region.

Pope Francis expressed his solidarity and closeness with Catholics in Nigeria after gunmen stormed a church and reportedly killed at least 50 people during a Pentecost Mass.

The Vatican updated its COVID-19 protocols, allowing most employees and visitors to enter Vatican City State without a vaccination certificate or proof of recovery and easing the Vatican's mask requirements.

The Vatican stamp and coin office has released several commemorative coins, including one promoting the importance of vaccinations and a silver medal for peace in Ukraine; proceeds from sales of the medal will be used to help victims of the war.

Pope Francis sent well-wishes to Queen Elizabeth II for the 70th anniversary of her coronation as well as the public celebration of her birthday.

Pope Francis has appointed new members of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, including Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich.

Commentary: The very notion of dialogue has atrophied throughout our American culture, as partisan, racial, economic and ideological divisions have undermined civility and the basic proposition that we can learn from a dialogue with those with whom we disagree.

The drought in Kenya — which the United Nations described as the worst in 40 years — is believed to be a consequence of climate change. The lack of rain in the fourth consecutive season has snuffed out livelihoods, leaving millions of people on the verge of starvation.