Racism, Pope Francis said, is “a virus that quickly mutates and, instead of disappearing, goes into hiding, and lurks in waiting.”

Canada’s Catholic bishops have called for condemnation by the faithful of acts of violence and extremism against all faith traditions.

Catholics should be “openly scandalized” by the “horrific act of hatred” that saw a Muslim family of five run down on a sidewalk because they were identifiably Muslim, said the director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute Deacon Andrew Bennett.

OTTAWA -- Faith communities and politicians condemned an attack on a Muslim family in London, Ontario, that police have labeled a hate crime.

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. -- In a campaign-style address, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed to be Canada’s defender of religious freedom July 6 at an annual religious festival.

VATICAN – Pope Francis called on Christians to unite in prayer for the victims of two mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 50 people dead and dozens wounded in one of the worst mass shootings in the country's history.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – New Zealand's Catholic bishops have expressed horror and distress at a terrorist attack in two mosques in Christchurch that saw at least 49 people killed.

NEW YORK – The Catholic Church is working to bridge the divide between Muslims and Christians in a country where the divide between the groups is fraught with large and small issues, said a Nigerian archbishop.

LAHORE, Pakistan – Catholic groups joined a protest against a military escalation in Pakistan and India following the recent suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir, reported ucanews.com.

VATICAN – Pope Francis will travel to Morocco March 30-31 as a "servant of hope" to encourage the country's small Catholic community, the migrants hosted there and all people of goodwill, said Archbishop Cristobal Lopez Romero of Rabat, the nation's capital.

ABU DHABI, United Arab – Becoming the first Pope to ever celebrate Mass in the predominantly Muslim nation of United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis urged a crowd of more than 100,000 to be meek, peaceful and express their Christian identity by loving others.

VATICAN – "Al Salamu Alaikum," Arabic for "peace be with you," Pope Francis said at the beginning of a video message to the people of the United Arab Emirates, which he will visit Feb. 3-5.

PANAMA CITY – Thousands of World Youth Day pilgrims stopped by the Jama Mosque Jan. 24 en route to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis.

JAKARTA, Indonesia – More than 90,000 police and soldiers and a moderate Muslim youth group will help guard nearly 50,000 churches across Indonesia, including some previously attacked by terrorists, during the Christmas period.