"An abrupt closure of the two camps would mean a humanitarian catastrophe for the region..."

The leaders of the world's communities of Catholic women religious were warned against accepting an "entitlement creep" that numbs them from confronting poverty and environmental destruction.At the opening session of a triennial assembly of the International Union of Superiors General

Bishop Tobin said young people already addicted to electronic devices and "attached to their virtual umbilical cords" would become more detached from society if the drug were legal.

His inclusion in a ceremony tinged with sadness for many of the country's Arabs, along with new allegations accusing him of sexually harassing young people he helped, has only added to the anger.

Despite the territorial defeats the Islamic State suffered over the past year, the Sunni extremist group is still capable of launching significant attacks across the country.

The bishops' conference president said the church would not back off from "reminding (Christ's) disciples of what fidelity to him—in all things, including political life—demands."