Cardinal Reinhard Marx has expressed surprise at the Vatican’s negative judgment on the German bishops’ Communion handout (Fr Anthony Ruff, German text). Ecumenism must “start from prayer”, Pope Francis told a Lutheran delegation yesterday (video). Poland’s prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki has discussed Russia, Ukraine and refugees with Pope Francis (video). Malawi’s bishops have urged the country’s vice president to stand in next year’s presidential election. Catherine Pepinster considers the future of Irish Catholicism. Inés San Martin chronicles the Chilean abuse crisis. And Gregory Alan Thornbury explains why the “Father of Christian Rock” was drawn to Catholicism. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.