Pope Benedict gave an extemporised speech at the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East yesterday (full text, video).
Benedict XVI will visit the southern Italian Diocese of Lamezia Terme next year.
Of Gods and Men, a film about the murder of seven Cistercian monks in Algeria, has topped the French box office.
Scottish weavers are working hard to cope with demand for the new papal visit tartan.
John Allen rounds up the first day's discussion at the Synod, analyses the Synod's approach to Israel, notes that there is also an influx of Catholics into the region and says that religious freedom is emerging as a key theme.
