Religion

Ramadan is a holy month when Muslims fast, pray and worship. There are also other activities — such as a competition last weekend in Charlotte where children as young as 4 years old were tested on their memorization and recitation of parts of the Quran.

Some are offering sanctuary to immigrants, others are ministering to families in different ways.

Ramadan is the holy month when Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, and often gather to break their fast communally. Ramadan this year aligns with Women’s History Month. But, as in every year, certain women who are exempt from fasting are also building community and preparing for make-up fast days later.

At First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, a therapist was fielding 10 calls a week from parents of teens who needed mental health help. Now the church is part of a national pilot intervention and study to address suicide risk among Black teens.

The Holy See Press Office said the pontiff has shown "a good response to the therapies." He was hospitalized on Feb. 14 for a case of bronchitis.

The 88-year-old pontiff is responding well to the treatment for double pneumonia and has shown a "gradual, slight improvement" in recent days, the Vatican said Saturday.

Pope Francis experienced more respiratory problems and went on noninvasive ventilation on Monday, the Vatican said, as the head of the Roman Catholic Church battles double pneumonia in the hospital.

Pope Francis' condition remains critical but stable and he was able to do some work while still in the hospital with double pneumonia, the Vatican said in a Tuesday evening update.

Pope Francis, 88, has been in critical condition since the weekend but showed improvement and resumed some work Monday, the Vatican said.

The pontiff, 88, has been hospitalized for a week and a half and is receiving treatment for a complex respiratory infection.