Sometimes we can be our own worst critics! I can't tell you how often I've heard people say that fewer Catholics attend Church anymore.

There could be no more urgent political or policy agenda. There are two global crises that are increasing exponentially in scale this year, trapped in a vicious reinforcing cycle, one making the other worse.

The past few days, with the passing of Nancy Reagan, I was contacted by the local and national media to share some reflections on the extraordinary lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. The media obviously knew that I served in leadership positions with the U.S. Conference of Mayor's when Ronald Reagan was President.

ROME -- Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope three years ago. He is now 79 years old and still seems willing to go further to set his reforms on an irreversible track. But the Curia grumbles against what is perceived from the inside as an authoritarian and unpredictable boss.

Empanadas, anyone?