Ten days after the nomination of the new apostolic administrator who will be taking over from him, the outgoing Latin Patriarch has given an interview, indirectly confirming the Patriarchate’s “administrative weaknesses”, which led to the Pope’s decision.

“I would like to tell the new administrator to continue to have the courage to speak and to tell the truth, nothing more, nothing less… There are many who prefer us to keep silent because what we have to say bothers people… We need to talk, with caution and respect, yes, but we need to talk…”

In his 1975 ballad “Thunder Road,” Bruce Springsteen tells his imaginary paramour that she can either waste her summer “praying in vain for a savior to rise from these streets,” or seize the realistic if flawed option in front of her, i.e., him.

While no one probably would tout the Boss as an expert on the Middle East, a good cross-section of the region’s minorities, including its Christians, would nevertheless share his basic sentiment: It’s often better to take the option that’s actually on offer, rather than dreaming of a White Knight unlikely ever to arrive.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has denounced the heinous crime, which took place on June 30, and led to the martyrdom of Fr. Rafael Moussa, priest of Al Arish in Egypt.

While the CCSM considers the late priest, Fr.Rafael Moussa, a martyr in defence of faith, justice, homeland and humanity, it joins the Catholic Church in the Kingdom in viewing this cowardly terrorist act as merely serving extremism, fanaticism and terrorism which strikes in a number of areas in the world.

There is no doubt that the month of Ramadan this year has not been easy at all despite its holy nature and blessings during which the believers receive. Yet, it has been crucial as it included bitterness and acts of terrorism that hit our country at its outset and its midst. It also included some unusual events which had far-reaching repercussions such as the brawl that took place outside a church in Zarqa.

Fr. Rafael Moussa was shot dead today in Al Arish, the same parish where another priest was killed in 2013. The murder has taken place on the anniversary of the demonstration that cleared the way for Al Sisi

“We pray for the victims, for their families, and for the beloved people of Turkey,” the Pope said today. At the Angelus prayer for Sts Peter and Paul, he added: “We are so deeply in need of peace!”

One of the key messages of the summit held in recent days on the Greek island, is that conciliarity should become an organised, decision-making model for Orthodox Churches

On behalf of all Jordanians, we thank His Majesty the King for visiting this Jordan house, which seems to be a dear, patriotic, and sincerely devoutly religious...

We are called upon, alongside His Majesty, to pay great attention to these houses, to visit them and make donations at the individual and institutional levels…

In the interview the Pope gave on board the flight from Armenia to Rome,on Sunday, June 26, he said: "Something isn't working in the EU, it needs creativity." Regarding the genocide, he commented: "I never intended to offend anyone with that word." When asked about the idea of establishing a "shared" papal ministry, he said: "Benedict XVI is an emeritus, but there is only one Pope." The commission that is to study the possibility of ordaining women as deacons is ready but Francis puts the issue into perspective.

The joint declaration signed by the Pope and Karekin II talks about the "immense tragedy" of "countless innocent people" who are "killed, displaced or forced into a painful and uncertain exile by continuing conflicts on ethnic, economic, political and religious grounds"