Franco Pisano

Turkey wants a 32-km zone to wrest control of areas currently held by the US-backed, Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara considers the latter as allies of the PKK, which it deems a terrorist group.

"We wanted,” said Cardinal Filoni,” to respond to the invitation of John Paul II who, at the beginning of the new millennium, said that Asia was going to be the vast continent to be evangelised.” “Macau,” he added, “has historically represented the ‘door’ or bridge for the mission of the Church in the East.”

Message from the Vatican Dicastery for the service of integral human development. "Work, which is not only employment, but the way in which man realizes himself in society and in the world, is an essential part in determining the integral development of both the person and the community in which they live".

The Pope’s letter was delivered to the Syrian president this morning. “The Holy See has always insisted on the need to seek an appropriate political solution to end the conflict, overcoming partisan interests,” said Card Pietro Parolin.

The wisdom of the heart lies precisely in knowing how to combine contemplation and action. "If we want to enjoy life with joy, we must associate these two attitudes: on the one hand," standing at the feet "of Jesus, to listen to him while he reveals the secret of everything to us; on the other, be considerate and hospitable"

The Pew Research Center report states that "in the 2007-2017 decade, government restrictions on religion - laws, policies and actions of state officials that limit religious beliefs and practices - have increased dramatically in the world." Leading the ranking of countries that impose restrictions on religious freedom are the Middle East and North Africa.

In Venezuela, “Let us pray to the Lord to inspire and enlighten the parties involved, so that they may reach an agreement as soon as possible that will put an end to the suffering of the people for the good of the country and the entire region.”

In a tweet yesterday Pope Francis called for respect of life. For the Pontifical Academy for life, Lambert’s death is "a defeat for our humanity".

"These least ones are abandoned and cheated into dying in the desert; these least ones are tortured, abused and violated in detention camps; these least ones face the waves of an unforgiving sea; these least ones are left in reception camps too long for them to be called temporary".

"We must always pray to the "master of the harvest ", that is God the Father, to send labourers to work in his field which is the world". The mission is based on prayer; which requires detachment and poverty; which brings peace and healing, which is not proselytism but proclamation and testimony.

The country, which for years has been tormented by a conflict with pro-Russian separatists, was among the topics addressed in Francis's conversation with Putin.

Press release says: “During the cordial discussions, both Parties expressed their satisfaction at the development of bilateral relations, further strengthened by the protocol of understanding signed today regarding the collaboration between the “Bambino Gesù” Paediatric Hospital and the paediatric hospitals of the Russian Federation.”