Pope Francis recalled "the many brothers and sisters who are not free to express their faith in the Lord Jesus" as he celebrated Corpus Christi yesterday (short video, full video). Protesters forced Coptic Pope Tawadros II to cancel his weekly sermon in St Mark’s Cathedral, Cairo, on Wednesday. The Assyrian Church of the East has begun the process of electing its new patriarch following the death of Mar Dinkha IV. Andrea Gagliarducci wonders why most journalists invited to the French, German and Swiss bishops' meeting in Rome didn't report on it. Werner Jeanrond offers an account from inside the bishops' meeting. Fr Ray Blake suggests this October's synod might be a "nasty little congress to discuss everything which is anti-family". And Fr John Crossin admires the "small but powerful whirlwind" that is Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.