The Democratic Republic of the Congo is becoming “an open prison”, Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya has said. The Holy See is reportedly keeping Taiwan informed of progress in its talks with Chinese authorities. Michael Brendan Dougherty says he’s “not confident in the Vatican’s diplomatic prowess” in China (CNA/EWTN). Ariel Dorfman asks why Pope Francis would “sabotage his own message in Chile” (Michael Sean Winters). Rod Dreher accuses La Civiltà Cattolica of smearing him “with associations of heresy” (full text). Anna Momigliano asks why some Catholics are “defending Pius IX’s decision to abduct a Jewish boy”. And Nicole Winfield reports on the restoration of the Pope’s favourite Marian icon in Rome. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.