The God of Joy and the Problem of Pain

Some say God allows pain. Others say it's a punishment. Some even argue that it's a gift from God. What explanation does the Catholic faith offer? Why doesn't God take away this suffering from me? Some say God allows pain. Others say it's a punishment. Some even argue that it's a gift from God. How much truth is there in this? How should we react to pain? Why does this happen to me, and not to someone else? From time to time, we witness natural disasters, physical and moral evils that leave people dejected and bewildered. Couldn't God have prevented them? Couldn't he have built a better world? What explanation does the Catholic faith offer?