Morning Catholic must-reads: 11/10/10

Benedict XVI inaugurated the Middle East Synod of Bishops at a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica yesterday (full text of homily, full text of Angelus address, analysis by John Allen).

A Motu Proprio concerning the new Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation will be published tomorrow.

Cuba is preparing to release three more political prisoners, local Church officials have said.

Pope Benedict may visit Croatia in 2011.

Nick Clegg, Britain’s deputy Prime Minister, is considering sending his son to the London Oratory School.

David Quinn says the Apostolic Visitation should reinvigorate the Irish Church.

Paul Collins argues that Geoffrey Robertson QC reveals his ignorance of how the Church works in his attack on Benedict XVI.

Pastor in Valle reflects on the closure of St Cuthbert’s, Ushaw, the seminary for the seven dioceses of the Northern Province of England.

Fr James Martin SJ applauds David Fincher’s new film, The Social Network.

A new stemma papale – or papal coat of arms – was unveiled during yesterday’s Angelus.

And the fame of Pushkin, the Birmingham Oratory cat stroked by the Pope, continues to grow and grow.