Middle East

Kurdish militias retake the Tall Shair hilltop and remove Islamist flag thanks to US airstrikes. Obama meets coalition military leaders. Ankara stops aid to the Kurds, denies the US use of its air bases and bombs PKK rebel sites.

The Doctors of the Law who demanded "signs" from Jesus "had forgotten history. Had forgotten that God is the God of the law, but He is also the God of surprises". "They had forgotten that they were a people on a journey. Journeying! And when we walk, when we are on a journey, we always encounter new things". "Holy law is not an end in itself." The journey is a learning process "that leads us to Jesus Christ, the final encounter, where there will be this great sign of the Son of man".

The "Relatio post disceptationem" (midterm report) urges greater openness to the "positive realities" found even in individualism, civil marriages and civil partnerships, greater Christian involvement of families in the work of evangelization, "greater involvement of the entire Christian community in preparing engaged couples for marriage "and to" a pastoral accompaniment that goes beyond the celebration of the sacrament ", with the need for subsequent formation of pastoral workers.

Fifteen million Kurds in Turkey's big cities want Ankara to intervene decisively to save the city of Kobane. Erdogan fears the disintegration of the country and stokes nationalism.

The head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq spoke at a conference organised by the Nazareth-based International Family Centre, a Vatican Foundation, as part of the Extraordinary Synod on the family. The Christian model is "example", a "light and hope for Muslim families". He also calls for "courageous dialogue" with Muslims.

At the Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of two Canadian missionaries - Saint François de Laval and Saint Marie de l’Incarnation - Francis emphasizes how "missionary brothers and sisters continue to live the Gospel in the world even at the cost of their own life. The devil is envious of Quebec’s missionary richness, may it once again give evangelizers to the world."

Before the Angelus, Francis comments on the passage from Matthew on the king’s invitation to a wedding feast: a "free, broad and universal call. They Gospel, rejected by someone, is warmly and unexpectedly welcomed in so many other hearts. God’s goodness has no boundaries and does not discriminate. "Mary's intercession for persecuted Christians and to the work of the Synod”. Francis prays for flood stricken Genoa: "Our Lady of the Guard will help the city overcome this tragedy."

Msgr. Nona sees the message delivered yesterday by the participants in the Synod as “very important”. The spirit and soul of the refugees, said the prelate, is becoming “increasingly disheartened and desperate”. The challenge of Iraqi Christian families in remaining united and educating their children in a context of serious difficulties. The militias of the Islamic State ready to launch the attack on Baghdad.

The speeches of the fraternal delegates highlighted the importance of the family for all the Churches and Christian denominations. The need for adequate preparation for marriage and an adequate reflection on marriage between believers and non-believers. "Some differences in approach were found, for example on the issue of regulation of births, emphasizing the freedom of conscience of believers, while always respecting the meaning of love and marriage".

A suicide bomber blew himself up during a protest organized by the Shiite Houthi rebels, killing 47 people (including four children). Also hit a military outpost in the eastern province of Hadramuwt, at least 20 soldiers killed. The newly-appointed prime minister steps down. Growing fears of sectarian violence.

"To guard, to watch, so that the demons don’t enter in, we must be able to gather ourselves, that is, to stand in silence before ourselves and before God, and at the end of the day ask ourselves: ‘What happened today in my heart? Did anyone I don’t know enter? Is the key in its place?’And this will help us to defend ourselves from so much wickedness, even from that which we could do if these demons, who are very clever and at the end would cheat all of us, even if they enter.” "

"The unity of the Christian Family in the Middle East is deeply shaken." "We call on the international community to take action to re-establish peaceful coexistence in Iraq, Syria and throughout the Middle East". "Some countries and organizations in the Western world" consider concepts (including abortion and same-sex unions), as 'human rights', linking economic aid campaigns and exerting strong pressure to acceptance of these concepts".