NATION/WORLD

Church officials asked priests who speak English, French, German, Italian and Spanish to celebrate Masses in these languages when the foreign teams are in their cities for the World Cup.

What do you get when you bring hundreds of youth ministers from around the world together for an inspiring four-day conference in the Valley of the Sun? The answer: 700 people on their knees in adoration beholding Jesus, the Lamb of God.

The U.S. bishops, gathered in New Orleans for their spring general assembly June 11-13, were urged to promote and support Catholic families.

Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja supported Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's proposal to offer amnesty for any Boko Haram militants who stop fighting and embrace peace.

After the five-year mark of incarceration, 85 percent of inmates have no visitors or contact from friends or family. More are finding a connection to their heavenly Father, however, thanks to the efforts of local priests, deacons and faithful prison ministry volunteers.

Praying for peace in the Holy Land alongside leaders of long-antagonistic nations, Pope Francis called on God to act where human efforts had failed, to end what he described as violence inspired by the devil.

The pope made his comments during a gathering in St. Peter's Square June 7 with tens of thousands of children, young adults, coaches and athletes to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Italian Sports Center, the Catholic Action's sports association in Italy. The square had been turned into a "sports village" with makeshift basketball and volleyball courts, mini-soccer fields, and gymnastic equipment.

Franciscan Father Ignatius Maternowski was remembered for his bravery and commitment to serving soldiers in the battlefield during a ceremony in Normandy marking the 70th anniversary of the Allied-led D-Day invasion.

"Present generations should express their full recognition to all those who made such a heavy sacrifice," the Vatican said in a message commemorating the June 6, 1944, invasion of Normandy. A Catholic Army chaplain made the ultimate sacrifice.

There are so many children and young teens from Central America trying to get into the United States on their own that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been asked to deal with the situation as a crisis.