Bishop Carlos Enrique Herrera Gutiérrez of Jinotega, Nicaragua was forced to leave the country after accusing a local Sandinista mayor of sacrilege for disturbing Mass last Sunday by blaring loud music outside the cathedral.

In Belarus, a Catholic priest, 64-year-old Fr. Henryk Akalatovich, has been accused of alleged state treason, and is due to stand trial in a district court in the capital, Minsk.

The Pope asked all ecclesial entities “to make a courageous gesture of love for their neighbour” by offering any vacant properties or unused reception facilities they may have available to house the homeless or those at risk of losing their homes.

Reflecting on the significance of this moment, Pope Francis described the Assembly as “the first event marking the culmination of the Synodal journey.”