Christians can be peacemakers when they commit, with courage and humility, to strengthening relationships and to alleviating tensions between people, Pope Francis said.

Jennifer Torres began her pilgrimage on the northern Marian Route, which began May 17 in Bemidji, Minn., at the Star of the North Conference and will end in Indianapolis at the National Eucharistic Congress.

Although Pope Francis usually takes the month of July off — except for leading the recitation of the Angelus on Sundays — he will hold a consistory with cardinals in Rome July 1 for the final approval of the canonization of several sainthood candidates, according to the master of papal liturgical ceremonies.

It was an emotional welcome when 48 veterans from around the U.S. arrived at the Deauville-Normandy Airport June 4 on board a special flight from Atlanta to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6.

Pope Francis reportedly told a young gay man to “keep going” with his vocational search after he told the pope he felt called to the priesthood but was turned away by an Italian seminary because he told them he was gay.