Turkey and US to create safe zone in northern Syria

The meeting of the joint working group concluded at the Vatican.  The Vietnamese delegation received by Pope Francis.  In a joint statement released today, there is also talk of the establishment "as soon as possible" of the non-permanent papal representative in Vietnam.

At the general audience in the Paul VI hall, Pope Francis highlights the practice of sharing and helping the poor, typical of the first Christian communities.  The positive example of Barnabas;  the negative example of Ananias and Sapphira, marked by hypocrisy.  "A life set only on profiting and taking advantage of situations at the expense of others inevitably causes inner death".  The little girl who played in front of the pontiff.

The Court of Appeal of three judges dismissed the appeal by 2 to 1. He remains in prison, serving a sentence of six years.  Card. Pell's lawyers plans to appeal to the High Court.  The note from the Vatican.

Cardinal calls on population to "abandon" the dominant logic of self and reach out to eachother.  This is the "key" of dialogue "in the family" and in "social and national life".  The government must implement an economic and financial recovery plan, targeting "smuggling".  Support for struggling teachers and pursuing the goal of "justice in truth" against torture and violence.

The restrictions increase prices, block supplies and cause serious shortcomings.  Cancer patients, especially children, are also at risk.  It is also difficult to find a simple paracetamol.  Drug imports from the United States and Europe collapsed with Trump.  The risk is the invasion of counterfeit medicines on the market.

The boats left the western province of Canakkale and were intercepted during seven patrol operations.  On board people from Afghanistan, Syria and Palestinians.  The migration flow from Turkey to Europe has increased in recent weeks.  Since August 10th, about 700 people have been intercepted.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains that "the fire" that Jesus came to ignite, pushes disciples "to abandon every attitude of laziness, apathy, indifference".  Christianity has spread "overcoming every division between individuals, social categories, peoples and nations".  It is urgent to live in "adoration of God" and in the "willingness to serve others".  One cannot "combine Christian life and worldliness", "superstitious practices" and "a hostile attitude to one's neighbor".

For the experts, it is a "unique geological phenomenon" that risks disappearing. Urgent intervention to slow down the lowering of the water and the progressive loss of the coast.  Main culprits are mining companies, particularly on the Israeli side.  The request for an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations.

Syrian government forces continue their march towards Idlib. Rebels and jihadis are waiting for reinforcements from Turkey. Fr Ibrahim talks about the “sound of rockets” that fall every day and risk sparking a new exodus in a country at a breaking point. The Pope's letter to Assad shows "the concern of father".

The ship had been seized since 4 July.  Yesterday the Supreme Court ordered the release, ignoring the warning from the United States.  The release could also mean onward passage for the British tanker stopped by the Pasdaran in the Strait of Hormuz.  Iranian minister:  acts of "piracy" by the US.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains the words used by Mary in the Magnificat: Magnify and rejoice.  "If we want our life to be happy, God must be placed first, because he alone is great".  Closeness to the peoples of South Asia affected by the monsoons.  The rosaries blessed by the Pope will be distributed to Syrian families.

The appeal is addressed to current President Rouhani and calls for an end to house arrest for Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard.  The petition has gathered 8700 signatures including politicians, journalists, veterans of the war with Iraq.  Reformist leader: the judiciary and the regime must apologize to the victims of 2009 and put an end to the incarcerations.

Rosemarie Perez and her 13-year-old son Rohan, born in Israel, repatriated after a brief legal battle.  The boy has never seen the Philippines.  A similar situation to hundreds of other immigrant workers and which worries the Church.  Bishop Marcuzzo: a "very serious" problem, the result of "extreme right" policies to reduce the non-Jewish population.

In a message published today, the pontiff expresses closeness to all those who have been touched by the tragedy and acknowledges that he does not have "pre-packaged answers". He does however reach out to the people of the city, saying "you are not alone", entrusting to Christ "our questions, our pain, our anger", urging people to look “towards the Madonna della Guardia", and calling for reconstruction in solidarity, together with the Church of Genoa.