Cuba

Ernesto Cardenal was the priest and poet for the poor and others at the margins. Today, the church isn't quite so afraid of his vision, unlike the iconic moment between Cardenal and Pope John Paul II.

Signs of the Times: In announcing the appointment of 10 new cardinal electors, Pope Francis has improved the possibility that the next pope will continue his policies, but their appointments have also sent a message to the church about what should be the priorities of its leaders.

Bishops and friends remember the recently-deceased Cardinal Ortega of Cuba. 

Pope Francis follows closely the news related to immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, Archbishop Christophe Pierre said in May 30 interview in Pittsburgh.

When the Boston Red Sox visited the White House last week, a majority of black and Latino players refused to attend as an act of resistance. The resulting optics of an overwhelmingly white team only amplified baseball's history of racism and exploitation of migrant labor.

While protests against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro raged across the country, National Guard forces loyal to the embattled head of state launched tear gas at churchgoers attending Mass at a local parish.

With its particular focus on China's oppression of religion and human rights, an independent watchdog group has decried in its annual report the state of religious freedom across the globe.

Pope Francis has donated $500,000 to assist migrants attempting to travel through Mexico, but who are increasingly being impeded by Mexican officials from reaching the U.S. border.