Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, chairman of the German bishops' conference, has called for the ordination of women deacons. Police in Rio de Janeiro have occupied three shanty towns around the statue of Christ the Redeemer in preparation for the Pope's visit in July (video). Pope Francis has passed the six million followers mark on Twitter (video). An 81-year-old priest collapsed and died at the altar of the church he had served for more than 30 years in New Zealand last Sunday. Cardinal George Pell of Sydney says that the kidnapping of two archbishops shows that "mayhem is everywhere" in Syria. Kathryn Jean Lopez welcomes the US bishops' decision to appoint a mother of six as Cardinal Timothy Dolan as spokeswoman. Grant Gallicho is sceptical. And Benjamin Wiker argues that Benedict XVI should be declared a Doctor of the Church. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day