The Catholic Church “embraces and encourages a passion for scientific research as an expression of love for the truth and for knowledge about the world,” Pope Francis told members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

The first task of a catechist is to love the Lord and to live the faith in a way that makes others want to live it, too, Pope Francis told more than 1,400 people attending the International Congress on Catechesis.

Pope Francis asked Christians to pray for him before he embarks on a three-day visit to Kazakhstan.

Brother John entered the Christian Brothers in 1946. He was a teacher at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson from 1953 to 1976 and director of alumni relations from 1996 to 2010.

Some Catholics may oppose the death penalty but are just fine with abortion, while others proudly declare that life is sacred but support the warehousing and execution of prisoners.