The pope’s encyclical on the environment carries a profoundly religious message about care for the earth, wedded to a new call for activism, say religious scholars Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim.

Pope Francis will use his upcoming high-level visits to the U.S. and UN to press the concerns of the poor and marginalized, says expert Kenneth Himes.

Britain’s coalition government has an ambitious agenda that includes strong transatlantic and European ties, says expert Fred Kempe. But success will depend on how well the government manages British…

While Congress is likely to raise the U.S. debt ceiling ahead of the August 2 deadline, lawmakers will still need to hash out a long-term deficit-reduction package to avoid market disruption and pres…