Subtle, yes, like a trim tab, but Pope Francis last week steered the massive heft of the Holy Roman Church, the oldest continuous institution in our midst, toward the Gospel message of mercy for all. I believe it just may be that, at least so far as he can direct it, the church is once again working for the Lord. Amen.

The U.S. immigrant detention system serves two legitimate purposes, to ensure that persons in removal proceedings appear for their hearings and (if so ordered) can be removed and, in rare cases, to protect the public.

Pope Francis' decision to send Juan Barros, a bishop for 11 years who served as a military chaplain, to the southern Chilean city of Osorno has ignited new media coverage on Rev. Fernando Karadima, 84, a notorious pedophile in Chile who was ousted by the Vatican four years ago, and who Barros used to share a close connection with.