Pope Francis urged the faithful to support the family synod with their prayers in his Angelus address yesterday (full text). A Chilean television station has broadcast a video of Pope Francis defending a bishop accused of covering up abuse (Marie Collins). Reports that the CIA is aiding opponents of Bashar al-Assad are "disturbing", Syrian Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo has said. John Allen, Fr Ray Blake, Massimo Faggioli, Molly Jackson, Edward Pentin, Fr Hugh Somerville-Knapman, Rocco Palmo, Russell Shaw, John Thavis and John Paul Shimek preview the family synod. Chloe Valdary says America should launch an Operation Frequent Wind-style operation to save Christians from ISIS. Gillea Allison explains how Francis brought her back to the Church. And Fr Dwight Longenecker argues that Christians should be "laughing cavaliers, happy warriors and hilarious evangelists". Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day. The next Morning Catholic must-reads will be on Wednesday, October 7.