Pope Francis has said there is a “culture of abuse” in the Church in a letter to Chilean Catholics (video). Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi has called for the “immediate return" of refugees to Syria. The Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics and the Council of Chinese Bishops have unveiled a five-year plan to “Sinicise” the Church (Steven Mosher). A bishop in Maine has said he has “no alternative” but to leave a state ecumenical group. Jesuit superior general Fr Arturo Sosa SJ discusses the challenges facing the Society (video). Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris says he wants to “reduce time in meetings and spend more time in the field”. And Nick Spencer and John Gray discuss atheism old and new. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.