The pontiff's six-day visit to the U.S. came to an end at Philadelphia International Airport, where he met Vice President Biden and delivered a brief farewell to the American cities that hosted him.
Kelly Gissendaner was executed by lethal injection Tuesday for her role in the 1997 murder of her husband. Richard Glossip got a delay just hours before he was scheduled for lethal injection.
Pope Francis took questions for an hour on his flight back to Rome. Before returning to the Vatican, he offered prayers of gratitude for his U.S. and Cuba visits, NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports.
In remarks delivered at the Festival of Families, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of caring for grandparents and children. Earlier in the day, he spoke at Independence Hall.
Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Brady eyed Pope Francis' water during the pontiff's congressional address. When Francis left it, Brady took it, brought it back to his office and drank it.
In truth, no one has ever defined the borderline between respect for religion, which is clearly part of the American culture, and slavish fealty to any given church or creed.
NPR's Sylvia Poggioli has been traveling with the pope all week — averaging three hours of sleep per night. Here's what it's like being among the 76 journalists following Pope Francis.
The pontiff is the fourth to address the United Nations. He spoke extensively about climate change and the environment, equality of opportunity and international justice.