Without doubt, no individual begrudges these bishops their high work to provide spiritual and basic physical support for illegal aliens, even as they would for those incarcerated.

FORBES: Arizona Immigration Case Forces Feds Into Conservative Territory

Whatever sympathy one might feel for the Bishops, there was no denying the anomalies in their account of that Saturday.

NEWYORKER: A Loaded Gun

Such is the discredit of his opponents that a loud No campaign from private business, some Catholic bishops and, especially, representatives of what remains of the once all-powerful traditional political parties could even prove to be markedly counter-productive.

ECONOMIST: Pot shots in Venezuela

True, the pope told the bishops that Germany's 264 Catholic-run pregnancy-counselling centres should no longer issue any of the certificates women need to obtain a legal abortion.

ECONOMIST: Germany and abortion

He said elections for a new synod were not due until autumn 2015, adding that "unless some of those who voted 'no' this time can be persuaded to change their minds, I have doubts about the bishops being confident of getting the revised measures through" before then.

BBC: UK

There is no timetable yet for the selection of his successor, who will be elected by a conclave of senior bishops.

BBC: Middle East

The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says there is no timetable yet for the selection of his successor, who will be elected by a conclave of senior bishops.

BBC: Thousands mourn Egypt's Coptic Pope Shenouda III