Syria

Christians and other civilians inside Idlib, Syria, are fearful of an impending, all-out offensive by their government and its Russian and Iranian backers on the northwestern province, the last rebel stronghold and presumed endgame in Syria's more than seven-year-old war.

While procedures are being put in place for Syrians to return to their war-torn country from neighboring Lebanon, the refugee crisis continues to linger and remains largely unchanged, a Caritas Lebanon official said.

In seven years of civil war, the Discalced Carmelites convent has suffered many food, water and electricity shortages, seen its windows shattered and a surrounding wall destroyed.

The pope is praying especially for peace in Syria, Nigeria and the Koreas.

The U.S.-led missile strikes on Syria are a show of force that will accomplish nothing in a country that has seen nothing but war for seven years.

The prime minister authorized Royal Air Force participation in the U.S.-led strike while Parliament was in recess, upending an recent tradition of shared powers.