Cover story... This week Robert Wagas explains why Putin hitting ISIS doesn’t mean he wants to save Syria’s Christians More comment... Fr Raymond J de Souza looks forward to serving as a ‘missionary of mercy’ Will Gore on Peggy Guggenheim, ‘midwife’ to 20th -century art Pastor Iuventus says during the Year of Mercy we cannot make weakness the criterion on morality Exclusively in print and on the Catholic Herald app Is a prayer composed by Benedict XVI offensive to Jews, asks Madeleine Teahan Patrick West thinks it odd that radicals should idolise Banksy Siobhann Tighe meets the mother who forgave her daughter’s murderer Dan Hitchens talks to the transgender Catholics who feel ‘written off’ Philip Booth says that the global economy is reducing, not increasing, world poverty Mary Kenny discovers what’s holding Lebanon together Stuart Reid worries that his pet spaniel won’t see Christmas Stav Sherez looks up to the brave men who first climbed K2 The Church in Europe will survive the Middle Eastern influx, says Piers Paul Read Fr Ronald Rolheiser says the closer we get to God, the more he seems to disappear