Joaquin may converge with another slow-moving storm in the East to add to a serious flooding situation into early next week. MORE

Well Michele, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It goes from Rome to Washington, Japan and back again. In other words around the world.

Former Rep. Michele Bachmann is not backing away from her End Times prophecies about how President Obama and gay rights advocates are paving the way for America’s destruction and the Apocalypse, returning to “Understanding the Times with Janet Markell” this weekend to issue her latest warning. MORE

Others saw the pope’s disdain for the mayor as being linked to his support of gay marriage, and in particular the city “legalising” same-sex marriages conducted abroad, even though Italy still bans such unions.

One thing is sure — the row will not help relations as Rome gears up to welcome 20 million pilgrims for the Year of Mercy, which begins on December 8, when the faithful will be granted special indulgences, the highest form of forgiveness. MORE

More than half of evangelical pastors say Pope Francis is their brother in Christ.

More than one-third say they value the pope’s view on theology, and 3 in 10 say he has improved their view of the Catholic Church.

Those are among the findings of a new study of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors, released this week from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. MORE

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When several thousand Christian conservative activists gather in Washington on Friday, they will hear from Donald Trump and seven other Republican presidential candidates. But one big name with religious bona fides will be absent: Jeb Bush.

Bush, who was not invited to the Values Voter Summit last year, was not able to attend this year, his campaign said. A Bush spokeswoman said he had offered to send a video message to the event, but a summit spokesman said the offer was declined. MORE

A Mexican councillor has provoked outrage after that homeless people should be put down like animals to keep the number of them on the streets down. MORE

A statue of the 18th century friar Junipero Serra was toppled and graves vandalized at the Carmel Mission in California, police said Sunday, just days after the missionary was canonized by Pope Francis.

The person or persons responsible struck Saturday night, damaging gravesites and signs and splashing green and white paint on doors, Carmel Police Sgt. Luke Powell told the Salinas Californian. MORE

Moments ago Carl Icahn decided to use his Shareholders’ Square Table as the venue in which to respond to his quasi-nomination for Treasury Secretary (he politely declines), and also to opine on Trump’s warning that the market is “one big fat bubble” (he agrees). MORE

“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:43 (KJV)

Transcribed: Bergolio: “Thank you for your kind words.  Once again, following a tradition by which I feel honored, the Secretary General of the United Nations has invited the Pope to address this distinguished assembly of nations.  In my own name, and that of the entire Catholic community, source 1:20 minutes in

Translated from Danish
Alaska: It has attracted shock as officials have brought to attention this past week of hundreds of dead walruses on a beach area in the northwestern part of Alaska. SOURCE

Fans of tattoos and extreme body modification descended on the capital of Ecuador this weekend for the annual Quito Tattoo Convention. MORE PICS 

The baton was officially transferred Monday to the world’s new sole superpower — and Vladimir Putin willingly picked it up.

President Obama (remember him?) embraced the ideals espoused by the United Nations’ founders 70 years ago: Diplomacy and “international order” will win over time, while might and force will lose.

Putin, too, appealed to UN laws (as he sees them), but he also used his speech to announce the formation of a “broad international coalition” to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq. MORE

Pope Francis met with victims of clerical sex abuse today and promised to hold those responsible accountable.

The 30-minute meeting was with five adults who had suffered sexual abuse as minors by the clergy or members of their family or teachers, according to the Vatican. The meeting, held on his final day in the United States, also included a family member of each victim.

Here is what Francis told the victims: MORE

The Internet once dubbed her the world’s ugliest woman. But Lizzie Velasquez has spent the last nine years proving to the world that she’s the most beautiful, the most inspiring and the most courageous. MORE