Evangelical leader Franklin Graham has criticised as "disgraceful" and "inappropriate" the decision to invite gay episcopal bishop Gene Robinson to Wednesday's White House reception.
The world's most prominent gay bishop has written an open letter to Pope Francis after the Vatican signalled it was unhappy with some of those invited to a White House party for the Pope.
On the eve of flying to Cuba this morning, the Pope has criticised "tyrant" dictators who fail to "plant the seed" of leadership in others. In a video recorded with CNN, Francis told Cuban and American students: "I will tell you one thing, a good leader is one who is capable of bringing up other leaders. If a leader wants to lead alone, he is a tyrant. True leadership is fruitful. Each one of you has the seed of leadership."
A Brazilian bishop has just pinned down the media for manipulating the public's perception of Pope Francis, especially after the pontiff reformed the annulment process and special permissions regarding confession during the Jubilee of Mercy.
Before he visits the United States, Pope Francis will spend three days in Cuba. After all these years, some are daring to hope he might broker a lifting the crippling US embargo.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a 15-year-old boy outside Philadelphia last August for alleged threats to launch an ISIS-inspired attack against Pope Francis when he visits the United States next week.