Pope tells bishops: the Church weeps at abuse

In a letter to the world’s bishops for the feast of the Holy Innocents, Pope Francis has said the Church “weeps” for children abused by priests. He wrote: “Persons responsible for the protection of those children destroyed their dignity … We beg forgiveness.”

Bishop declares 2017 to be a Marian Year

US Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence has said 2017 will be a Marian Year in his diocese. “We need her example of all her virtues and we need her prayers,” he said.

Leading Scripture scholar dies aged 96

Jesuit Fr Joseph Fitzmyer, a giant of biblical scholarship, has died aged 96. He co-edited the Jerome Biblical Commentary.