Pope Francis

Amid tensions among European leaders over a new influx of migrants, Pope Francis on Sept. 22 arrived in the French port city of Marseille and warned that civilization is at a crossroads over the continuing migrant crisis.

One of the most important gatherings in the long history of the Catholic Church will begin in just a few days, with the opening of the Synod of Bishops. NCR will be there in strength to report on this momentous event.

Sweden's Catholic cardinal came to Washington, D.C., in August for an ecumenical dialogue with a Lutheran bishop. In NCR interviews, the two prelates spoke about their hopes for Pope Francis' upcoming Synod of Bishops.

After a severe storm set off flooding that breached dams in eastern Libya, leading to the deaths of thousands of people, Pope Francis sent his condolences and prayers.

Pope Francis called for solidarity and concrete assistance for all those affected by a devastating earthquake in Morocco.

Marking International Literacy Day, Pope Francis sent a message to Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, encouraging efforts to teach reading and writing to the hundreds of millions of people in the world who do not have basic literacy skills, but he also focused on the education needed to help all people contribute to building sustainable and peaceful societies.

Among those trying to drum up resistance to Pope Francis' closely watched Vatican summit on the future of the Catholic Church are a far-right Latin American traditionalist group, political activists, and retired U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke.

As the first gathering of Pope Francis' Synod of Bishops is set to begin Oct. 4, Latin American and U.S. Latino theologians are recognizing influences from the pope's Latin American roots in the synod's theology and methodology.