Pope Francis has urged G20 leaders to abandon "the futile pursuit of a military solution" in Syria in a letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin (full text). Vatican Archbishop Dominque Mamberti briefed 71 ambassadors to the Holy See about Syria yesterday (video). The Pope's next encyclical, reportedly called Blessed Are the Poor, will “define our stance on poverty”, Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech has said. Bishop Robert Lynch has suggested that the American Church "gave President George W Bush largely a free pass on Iraq". Michael Peppard posts a host of links to recent American Catholic commentary on Syria. Sandro Magister reflects on the detente between Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and liberation theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez. And enterprising radio host Lino Rulli makes the case for his own canonisation on the same day as Blessed John Paul II (video). Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day