Morning Briefing

NCR Vatican correspondent Joshua McElwee traveled with Pope Francis to Egypt this weekend, and here are the stories he filed (in reverse chronological order):

• Press conference aboard the papal plane: Francis tells US, North Korea to cool nuclear tensions, seek mediation
• During an outdoor Mass for Egypt's tiny Catholic population: Francis tells Egyptian Catholics to reject fanaticism and respect other faiths
• Pope Francis' trip to Egypt made a significant step forward in ecumenical relations.Pope Francis and Coptic pope agree not to re-baptize
• Cairo, Egypt — At a peace conference at the world's oldest center of Muslim learning, Pope Francis called on global religious leaders to condemn violent extremism and "unmask violence that masquerades as purported sanctity."

Washington — Congressional leaders reached a bipartisan agreement on Sunday to fund the government through September, effectively ending any suspense about the possibility of a government shutdown next weekend. Funds to build the wall on the US-Mexican border aren't in it.

Pyongyang, North Korea — In North Korea, missiles and nuclear bombs are more than a means of national defense — they are, for broad segments of the public, objects of near-religious devotion. Here's what's driving North Korea's nuclear program — and it might be more than self-defense

Asheville, North Carolina —​ Rebel Catholic group defies church, ordains woman priest in NC. Local ordinary, Bishop Peter Jugis, was invited to the ceremony, but he did not attend. He didn't return his RSVP card either.

Once a month for four hours, the entire country of Rwanda shuts down to take part in government-mandated community service called "Umuganda," a Kinyarwanda word that means "coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome." In Rwanda, one good deed, required by law, deserves another.

The High Court of central India’s Madhya Pradesh state has acquitted a Catholic bishop and five others accused of making illegal conversions. Madhya Pradesh is among the Indian states with stringent anti-conversion laws. The charges were filed eight years ago.

The Catholic Bishop of Derry, Ireland, Donal McKeown, and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, completed a three-day, 34-mile-long walk from St. Columba's birthplace at Gartan, in Donegal, to St Augustine’s Church in Derry, and action meant to promote reconciliation in the community and highlight their shared Christian witness and Columban heritage.

Bringing health care, education and peace building to South Sudan: Q & A with Sr. Yudith Pereira

Start your day inspired with daily scripture reflections. Join NCR's sister publication, Celebration, for Daily Bread, a series of short reflections written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings.

Or reflect on Pencil Preaching by Pat Marrin. Every morning Pat Marrin breaks open the Word with a pencil sketch and a short meditation.