A divided and often skeptical Supreme Court heard two cases Oct. 31 challenging race-conscious policies used in university admissions to obtain diverse student populations.

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80 percent of dementia cases. On average, a person with Alzheimer’s lives four to eight years after diagnosis, but can live as long as 20 years.

During the month of November, Pope Francis is asking people to pray for children who are suffering because of poverty, war and exploitation.

St. Francis of Assisi is known for loving and celebrating creation and for being a man of peace and poverty, Pope Francis said.

Catholic bishops in South Korea expressed sorrow and offered prayers after more than 150 people died in a stampede during Halloween celebrations in Seoul. They also called for a detailed investigation to identify the cause of the incident.