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Rome's Mayor Ignazio Marino, center, smiles as he registers the gay marriage between Jonathon Dominic Spada, left, and Fabrizio Maffeo, in Rome, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. Marino has registered 16 gay marriages entered abroad in open defiance of Italy's Interior Ministry. Gay marriage is illegal in Italy. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano recently sent a notice to local prefects saying any registrations of gay marriages celebrated abroad would be voided. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Rome mayor defies law, registers 16 gay marriages

Associated Press

Islamic State demonstrators chant pro-al Qeada messages in Mosul. According to U.S. counterterrorism officials, both the North Africa-based al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have seen defections to the Islamic State in recent weeks. (Associated Press)

Six miles from ISIS: A shockingly brave priest returns to Iraq

By Elise Harris - Catholic News Agency

In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis meets relatives of victims and survivors of the Lampedusa deadly migrant shipwreck during a private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday Oct. 1, 2014. Around 370 people, most of them Eritrean and Syrian asylum-seekers, drowned on Oct. 3, 2013 when their smugglers' boat capsized off the island of Lampedusa. Pope Francis has called for the Europe to open its doors to refugees as he marked the anniversary of the deadly shipwreck. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)

Put your gifts at the service of others, Pope Francis exhorts

By by Elise Harris - Catholic News Agency

From left, Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Joseph Chaput, Barbara and Thomas Riley, and their children Penelope and Vincent, attend a press conference at the Vatican, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, to present the 8th 2015 World Meeting of Families to be held in Philadelphia, PA, from Sept. 22 to Sept. 27, 2015. Francis and 100 elderly priests will celebrate a Mass in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 28 in honor of the elderly, part of his long-standing belief that old people shouldn't be shut away in retirement homes but should be actively cherished for their wisdom. The Mass for grandparents, and the group wedding that Francis celebrated last weekend, are aimed at focusing attention on family life ahead of a major two-year church study on family issues starting Oct. 5. At bottom the official icon of the meeting, a painting by artist Neilson Carlin of Kennett Square depicts Jesus as a toddler, with Mary and Joseph and Mary's parents, Anna and Joachim. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Families document offers global perspective

By Alan Holdren and Kevin Jones - Catholic News Agency

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis, right, embraces his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, during a ceremony in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 27, 2014. Pope Francis has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in an unprecedented canonization ceremony made even more historic by the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI. (AP Photo/L' Osservatore Romano, ho)

The ‘Unknown Pope’ – how Benedict XV is relevant today

Catholic News Agency

Pope Francis waves to the crowd from his popemobile as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis’ match for peace thrills with positive message

By Elise Harris - Catholic News Agency

Pope Francis arrives with his popemobile in St. Peter's Square on the occasion of the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Italy ramps up security over Islamic State’s threat to Pope Francis

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times