Middle East

Msgr. Warduni confirms reports of "gangs and militias" responsible for attacks and expropriation of houses, commercial, cultural and religious sites. A milieu of groups that operate by exploiting the inertia of the authorities and the institutions and target Christians, Muslims, Yazidis. They are acting for money and are a concern. UN blue helmets to ensure the unity of Iraq.

"Forgiveness is a seed, God’s caress". When a person approaches the confessional: "it is because he or she feels something weighing them down and wants to be freed", they may not know how to say it, but "tell them with gesture to come closer." "There is no need to ask questions."

Tomorrow Francis will grant them the authority to forgive those who steal consecrated hosts, use violence against the Pope, absolve an accomplice, illegitimately ordain a bishop, attempt to ordain a woman, violate the secrecy of the conclave, and even those who are complicit in an abortion or commit acts of pedophilia.

Mgr Zenari welcomes the pontiff’s call for a "political solution" to the conflict. For the prelate, civilians want more than words; they want "concrete steps" towards a ceasefire. However, a miracle is now needed, like the one that led to the elimination of chemical weapons. As Gulf States put pressure for a ground operation, Syrian government forces push north.

Card. Rai makes fresh appeal for election of President of the Republic. The prelate denounces political and parliamentary factions who "impede" choice. Vacancy also concerns international diplomacy. UN special envoy: do not take the "stability" of the nation for granted. Parliament in session today.

At the Angelus Francis launches appeals also to eradicate new forms of slavery and sends greetings of peace and serenity for the Chinese New Year. He asks for prayers for the meeting with "my brother Kirill." "The essentials" of Christianity is "the essence of Christianity: to spread the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with attitude of welcome and mercy to everyone, so that everyone can meet the tenderness of God and have the fullness of life."

Results of research conducted by the National Family Safety Program. 13% has suffered sexual violence, 53% are victims of neglect. Among child victims of abuse cases of depression and drug abuse are growing. Saudi expert: we need targeted programs, aid and specialized centers.

Greeting the Padre Pio Prayer Groups Francis says that prayer "is not a good practice for peace of heart, neither a pious way to obtain from God what we need. If it were so, it would be moved by a subtle selfishness: I pray to feel good, like taking an aspirin. No, it is not this. I pray to get this thing. That is just making a deal. Neither is it this. Prayer is something else. Prayer, is a work of spiritual mercy". " In a word, it means entrusting: entrust the Church, people, situations to the Father, so that He may care for them".

The meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill has been eagerly desired for quite some time. Expected under John Paul II; hoped for with Benedict XVI, it has taken time to realize. Catholics and Orthodox face the same challenges of persecution and relativism. Orthodox nationalism, backed by Putin, causes some reticence. The Middle East crisis and risk of Russia’s isolation fosters collaboration.

Good relations until the fifteenth century. The Council of Florence, the Union of Brest and the birth of the Catholic Churches of the Eastern rite. The anti-Christian persecution of the Soviet Union and the conflict between Catholics and Orthodox in Ukraine. The Catholic mission in Russia.

Metropolitan Hilarion told a press conference that despite unresolved issues such like the expansion of the Greek Catholic Patriarchate in Ukraine, the Moscow Patriarchate hopes that the meeting "will open a new page in the relations between the two Churches”.

The 64-year-old of Palestinian died on 3 February in Rome, where he was to attend a papal audience. A scholar of comparative religions, since 1988 he was director of the Al-Liqa’ Center, an institute dedicated to exchanges with Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land.