Pope's ambassador: US bishops should act warmly toward Catholics, not follow ideology

BALTIMORE – The Vatican ambassador to the United States says American bishops should make Roman Catholics feel more at home in the church.

Archbishop Carlo Vigano (VIH-gah-no) says Pope Francis wants bishops to act more fatherly and not follow any particular ideology.

Vigano made the remarks at the start of a national bishops meeting in Baltimore. It's the first such assembly since Pope Francis was elected and asked bishops to focus more on mercy than hot-button political issues. Many Catholics are watching for any change in the bishops' tone.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan is ending his term as president of the bishops' conference. He urged church leaders to make religious freedom abroad their defining issue. He said religious freedom challenges in the U.S. pale in comparison to what Christians face overseas.