Indian prime minister Narendra Modi may have difficulty fulfilling his promise to defend religious minorities, Cardinal George Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, has said (summary). Millions of East Asian Catholics have a dispensation from fasting on Ash Wednesday because it falls on Chinese New Year. Pope Francis has reportedly returned a cash donation from Sri Lankan Catholics, saying it should be given to the local poor. Government spies tapped Francis's phone when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, a friend of the Pope has claimed. John Allen and Rupert Shortt ponder the plight of Middle Eastern Christians. Elise Harris profiles the "scandalous" cardinal who shapes Benedict XVI's theological vision. And a plush doll version of Pope Francis has gone on sale in the United States ahead of his visit in September. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.