Catholic Church leaders in Madagascar have urged a return to dialogue after the Indian Ocean island’s president was forced into exile by an Oct. 14 military takeover.

For Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, who was held captive by the Islamic State group for five months in 2015, receiving an award named after St. John Paul II was a hopeful reminder of the late pontiff’s efforts to advance peace and dialogue in uncertain times.

The U.S. Catholic bishops have appointed veteran journalist Carol Glatz to head up their Rome-based news bureau, succeeding Cindy Wooden, another longtime journalist.

Welcoming a group of Holy Year pilgrims from Russia, Pope Leo XIV did not mention their country’s war on Ukraine, but he prayed that the pilgrims would let “the fire of Christian love” be kindled in their lives so it would warm “even the coldest and hardest of hearts.”

In anticipation of the celebration Oct. 19 of World Mission Sunday, the Vatican’s missionary news agency shared statistics about the Catholic population, church personnel and the works they are engaged in.