Mali’s Catholic Church has said it hopes to obtain the release of a kidnapped Franciscan nun (above) after her Islamist captors issued a video showing her pleading with the Pope to help save her life. Mgr Noel Bernard Coulibaly, a Caritas director, said the Church had set up telephone and WhatsApp connections in case her captors got in touch. “We’re still praying daily for her,” he said.
Turkish leader makes rare Rome trip
Pope Francis met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday. It was the first time in 59 years a Turkish president had visited the Vatican. During a 50-minute meeting, the two men talked about the status of Jerusalem: the two leaders have jointly opposed US moves to recognise it as Israel’s capital. They also discussed the situation of Catholics in Turkey and the need for Middle East peace achieved “through dialogue”, the Vatican said.
