Morning Catholic must-reads: 06/03/15

All nations should abandon the death penalty, Vatican Archbishop Silvano Tomasi has told the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Four American Catholic publications have issued a joint appeal for an end to capital punishment in the United States.

Cardinal Edward Egan, the ninth Archbishop of New York, has died suddenly, aged 82.

Nine out of 10 US Catholics now view Pope Francis favourably, according to Pew Research Center.

Phil Lawler says Francis faces many more “battles inside the Vatican” over his reform programme.

Rabbi Jonathan Romain asks why the Pope is using “such a big theological stick” to highlight the rights of the elderly.

Alanis Morissette says she owes her singing career to the Catholic Church.

And Adam Bowers explains why a Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury had a cask of beer on his coat of arms.

Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.