Pope prays at Rome basilica for World Youth Day

Pope prays at Rome basilica for World Youth Day

VATICAN CITY

Some lucky faithful got a surprise when Pope Francis made an unannounced visit to St. Mary Major basilica Saturday to pray for followers who will gather this week in Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day.

The pope was ushered into the basilica through a side door and brought to a chapel where he prayed for more than half an hour in front of an icon of the Madonna, the Vatican said in a statement.

“Since the basilica was open to the public and numerous faithful were present, the pope, before leaving, stopped in front of the central altar” where he asked the faithful to follow his journey “with prayer, faith and penance,” the Vatican said. The entire visit lasted a little more than an hour.

Charges in case of men found held in Texas home

HOUSTON

A 31-year-old man was charged Saturday in connection with the discovery of four malnourished men being held against their will in a dungeon-like Houston home.

Walter Renard Jones faces two counts of injury to the elderly. He is being held without bond in the Harris County Jail and is set to appear in court Monday.

Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva said it’s possible additional charges will be filed as the investigation continues. The exact charges are decided by the district attorney’s office.

Police said Friday that the men told investigators they were forced to live in the garage — which had one chair, no bed and a possibly malfunctioning air conditioner — so their captor could cash their public-assistance checks.

“We’re still in the beginning in the investigation,” Silva said. “We still need to determine things like where the money was going.”

US drops bombs on Great Barrier Reef

CANBERRA, Australia

Two U.S. fighter jets have dropped four unarmed bombs in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park when a training exercise went wrong.

The two AV-8B Harrier jets, launched from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard, each jettisoned an inert bomb and an unarmed explosive bomb in the World Heritage-listed marine park off the coast of Queensland state Tuesday, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement Saturday.

The four bombs were dropped in more than 164 feet of water away from coral to minimize possible damage to the reef, the statement said. None exploded.

The jets from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had intended to drop the ordnances on the Townshend Island bombing range but aborted the mission when controllers reported the area was not clear of hazards.

Associated Press