Pope Francis urged Catholics to "pray that the Church will uphold and strengthen the promise of the family" in his address at today's general audience. Russian airstrikes in Syria are creating a "cautious hope for the future", Mgr Georges Abou Khazen, Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo, has said. John Allen, Michelle Boorstein, Grant Gallicho, Sandro Magister, Edward Pentin, Fr Thomas Reese SJ, Rorate Caeli, Robert Royal, Joseph Shaw and Mark Silk comment on the synod. Tim Stanley argues that Amnesty International's new pro-abortion campaign in Ireland is "shamelessly anti-Catholic". Mark Regnerus explains why he no longer regards Catholic teaching on contraception as "backwards and uncool". Andrea Gagliarducci reveals Benedict XVI's "special role" in advancing the Cause of Pope John Paul I. And "recovering bartender" Frank Swigonski tells you everything you need to know about Trappist beer. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.