Five years after he went missing, an event still shrouded in mystery, a seminar was held in Beirut dedicated to the Jesuit missionary in Syria who challenged the country’s regime and tried to deal with jihadis. His parents “call for every effort to be made to know his fate”.

In a joint statement, Francis and the Catholic Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East note the progress on the path of unity and reiterate that "it is not possible to imagine the Middle East without Christians. This conviction is founded not simply on religious grounds, but also on social and cultural realities, since Christians, with other believers, greatly contribute to the specific identity of the region”.

After coming to Saudi Arabia on fake passports during Hajj, many Rohingya have been held in detention centres for years. The Saudi government is planning to forcibly repatriate them. The kingdom has no refugee plan nor signed the 1951 Refugee Convention.

The National Social Justice Movement supported the current president in his 2015 election bid. Now its members feel betrayed after Sirisena allied himself with former dictator Rajapaksa.

He will be subjected to isolation and indoctrination for 10-15 days. The faithful ask the Church worldwide for prayers. Bishop Shao is recognized by the Holy See, but not by the government. In the diocese, official and underground communities are united. Official priests banned from visiting the tombs of underground priests and bishops. Prohibition of participation in mass and catechism for young people under 18 years. The Church must remain "independent" despite the Sino-Vatican agreement.

"It is true that the celebrations must be beautiful - beautiful - but not worldly, because worldliness depends on the god of money. It is an idolatry like others. This makes us think about our attitude to the house of God, our respect for churches when we enter ".