Iraqi Christians, Yazidis, and other religious minorities gathered in Washington two weeks ago and proposed for there to be a safe zone created for them in the Nineveh Plains, which are northeast of Mosul in northern Iraq, Christian Telegraph reports according to Mission Network News. The idea would be for the safe zone to potentially become a sovereign state in the future.

The proposal hasn’t gained much traction, but a lot more would need to be answered first, says Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs, USA.

With his choice, Francis continues in the footsteps of his predecessors. The significance of his gesture in Assisi

Francis, Bartholomew and Welby meditate together during the ecumenical prayer session in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi: “Who bothers responding to them? “Far too often they encounter the coldness of those who silence their cry for help with the same ease with which television channels are changed”

Mgr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, has taken part in the peace meeting the Pope is going to be attending tomorrow.

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople of the Eastern Orthodox Church Bartholomew I was among the protagonists of the second day of meetings in Assisi. The Orthodox leader once again stressed his commitment to peace and expressed an ecclesial vision similar to Francis’. Meanwhile, Kasper said “Christian unity is a sign of the times against conflict”. Rabbi Rosen added: The fact that such a negative relationship as that between Jews and Christians has been radically transformed, shows that anything is possible”.

The three-day meetings of the 11th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) have been a source of pride for every Jordanian due to the fact that dear Jordan hosts for the first time official delegations comprising all parties to the Middle East and all Churches. It, undoubtedly, indicates the state of security and stability that Jordan enjoys. We all pray that the status quo will always prevail.

On this “Mercy Friday” marking the Year of Mercy, Francis paid a visit to the neonatal intensive care unit at Rome’s San Giovanni hospital. After this, he made his way to the Hospice Hope Villa at the city’s Gemelli Hospital.

They saw him approaching, wearing a surgical mask - a standard precaution in aseptic environments such as the one the Pope was entering. Just days after the canonization of Mother Teresa, who did so much to safeguard and promote life, this afternoon Pope Francis paid his customary “Mercy Friday” visit to a structure which shares this very same mission.

Legal discrepancies regarding baptisms and marriages arose after an increase in the number of faithful from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The issue of the “irregularities” concerning candidates to the priesthood has also been resolved.

Pope Francis celebrated Mass at St. Martha House on Wednesday, September 14, with members of the community of Rouen, in honour of the French priest who was slain in his church on 26 July: “He is a martyr and was lucid enough to say to his assassin: “Away with you Satan!”

Marking Independence Day in 2012, His Majesty King Abdullah bestowed on “the House of Peace for the Elderly” (Dar es Salam for the Elderly), located in Tla’ Al ‘Ali, Amman, the Order of Al Hussein for Distinguished Contributions of the Second Class, marking its noble humanitarian efforts being carried out since its establishment in 1976. This accredited House is the brainchild of a girl born in Albania and named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was later known in Calcutta, India, by the name of “Mother Teresa”.