On Wednesday, the Pope surprised a group of children and invited them to get on the popemobile to greet the pilgrims. During his return to St. Peter’s Square, one of the babies he blessed wore a very special suit.

In his catechesis, Pope Francis explained the fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” He said that it serves to protect a fundamental value in human relationships: the value of life. He recalled that we must watch over the lives of all and spoke about abortion.

“I ask you, is it right to take someone’s life to solve a problem? What do you think? Is it fair? Is it fair? Is it fair or not? Is it fair to pay a hitman to solve a problem? No. You can’t. It is not fair to kill a human being, even a small one, to solve a problem. It’s like entrusting a hired killer with the task of solving a problem,” he said.

The Pope explained that the root of this sin is fear. For this reason, he asked for people to help parents who receive the news that they are expecting a sick or disabled child.

“Instead, they often get hasty advice to terminate the pregnancy. This is one way of saying… because terminating a pregnancy means killing one directly.” “In reality this person is a gift from God that can take one out of being self-centered and make one grow in love. Vulnerable life shows us the way out, to save us from a self-centered existence, and to discover the joy of love,” he said.

Pope Francis recalled that the value of life is not measured by money, power or success, but by love. In addition to respecting the lives of others, he asked everyone, especially young people, to respect their own lives.

“You are a work of God! Don’t underestimate yourself, don’t despise yourself with addictions that ruin you and lead you to death,” he said.

At the end of the general audience, the pope greeted Argentinian Cardinal Luis Héctor Villalba, 83, who has traveled to Rome; and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, who came with a group of pilgrims from Sri Lanka.

Brett Kavanaugh completed his first day as a Supreme Court Justice Monday evening. Following a swearing-in ceremony at the White House, he took the bench in what is expected to be a new era for the court.

During his first day hearing oral arguments, Justice Kavanaugh asked a lot of questions. The court heard two cases about long prison sentences that under federal law are intended to get repeat offenders off the streets.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called the job “an honor of a lifetime” as she announced her surprise resignation.

President Donald Trump said, “We’re all happy for you in one way, but hate to lose you. Hopefully you will be coming back at some point.”

Haley will leave her post at the end of the year. The President says Haley told him six months ago she sought a break. However, a source familiar with the situation told CNN Haley notified Trump about her decision only last week.

The former South Carolina governor, well-liked at U.N., while navigating the Trump shift in U.S. foreign policy.

“The Secretary General wishes to express his deep appreciation for the excellent cooperation and support that Nikki Haley has always demonstrated,” said Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.

She was often seen as a moderating voice.

“Nikki Haley was generally seen as one of the grown-ups in the Trump administration. Somebody who’s a very skillful politician, able to get along with President Trump, but also cultivate a separate identity,” said Max Boot, Council on Foreign Relations.

Haley quieted any speculation about a 2020 white house bid. President Trump says he’ll name a successor, within two to three weeks.

A major evangelization event took place in the Diocese of Brooklyn and it attracted thousands.

“It’s truly a day that we magnify the lord as Magnificat,” Bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio, said.

Which gives even more meaning to the Magnificat Day of Thanksgiving. The Magnificat is a spiritual guide known to churchgoers around the world, helping Catholics follow daily mass and develop an enriched prayer life. The occasion celebrated the silver jubilee of the publication’s mission of evangelization.

“A way to give people the tools,” Bishop explains, “ they need to be firm in their faith, because they won’t evangelize unless they feel good about their faith.”

The anniversary ceremony was put together by the Magnificat family in partnership with the Brooklyn diocese. Bishop DiMarzio welcomed pilgrims to the King’s Theater in Flatbush. Joining Bishop DiMarzio were the Pope’s U.S. Ambassador archbishop Christophe Pierre and Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley.

They talked about evangelizing the faith and led the pilgrims in the worship of the blessed sacrament.

Father Sebastian White, the Magnificat’s editor in chief, said “Today’s celebration, I believe, communicates in a powerful way that the catholic faith is working, it’s effective in the world, it’s inspiring people.”

Adding to the jubilee, a symphony orchestra played catholic musical masterpieces and an actress performed spiritually inspiring scenes.

A highlight of the day was the opportunity to venerate relics of the little flower – St Therese of Lisieux and her parents.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us here in the diocese to not only hear these wonderful talks but also to be able to internalize them and then share with others what we really feel about our love with Jesus Christ.” said Ted Musco, the leader of the evangelization team in the Brooklyn diocese.

Trumpets kept the beat as thirty-five thousand people marched along Fifth Avenue. One woman, a Napoli native, said she’s partial to this parade above all others. “There’s a lot of pride today, a lot of tradition.”

Those traditions shut down the heart of midtown Manhattan, Monday, as Italian pride pulsed along New York City’s streets and sidewalks. Now in its seventy-fourth year, organizers say the Columbus Day Parade is the largest celebration of Italian-American culture. The crowd of clergy gathered in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral had a front row seat to all the floats and festivities. Some of the priests, like Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, have Italian roots. Marveling at all of the Italian-American accomplishments, the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg said, “I mean I think the Italians in America did so much to build this country. We helped build the country.”

The Bishop of Metuchen, James Checcio, also has Italian roots. “The family meals, spending time together, that’s the way Jesus did a lot of his work, a lot of his ministry, and Italian’s get it.”

Other priests are “Italian” by association. Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he enjoys Italian food enough to be, “Well about sixty pounds that I’m carrying around,” Cardinal Dolan joked. More seriously, he commented that “There’s a real joy in their unity. We need that.”

Last year, the festivities fell during a time where there was a lot of controversy surrounding the statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Circle and whether or not it should remain there because of Columbus’ contested treatment of Native Americans. Ultimately, the city decided it should stay. This year, as Governor Andrew Cuomo walked along Fifth Avenue, he nominated the statue to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio, commented on the voyager he has spent time studying.“He is a very religious man. He was a Third Order Franciscan, he recited the Office every day, he had his men pray each day on the ship, so I think this was a real man of faith.”

Currents News anchor Liz Faublas is joined by National Correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, Christopher White, to discuss the latest developments out of Rome during the Synod of Bishops.