News Briefs

Pope Francis urged prayers and assistance for the Philippines on Nov. 10 and made an initial donation of $150,000 for Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts. • A mortar round hit the apostolic nunciature in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Nov. 5, causing limited damage to the building but no casualties. •A group of women religious asked the pope to raise awareness of the problem of human trafficking by establishing a worldwide day of prayer and fasting on Feb. 8, the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave who found freedom in Italy in the 19th century. • A partnership between Catholic Relief Services and Special Olympics International, announced on Nov. 6, will join the development work of C.R.S. with the Special Olympics’ health services and education programs in an effort to overcome the stigma people with intellectual disabilities and their families face. • Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C., founder of Notre Dame University’s Alliance for Catholic Education, was recognized by the Manhattan Institute with its William E. Simon Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Social Entrepreneurship on Nov. 5.