THE Vatican this week sent the preparatory document for the European Synod to episcopal conferences. The special gathering will open fur two weeks' discussion on November 28. Under the general theme Ut testes simis Christi qul nos liberarit (since we a re testimonies of Christ who liberated us), the assembly incorporating east European bishops for the first time will discuss the European church as it approaches the year 2000.
TEN policemen were injured and 14 students held for questioning after a noisy group of 100 pro-abortionists forced Pope John Paul 11 to interrupt his address during a special visit to Rome University this week. The hecklers shouted blasphemous slogans and carried offensive placards. One depicted a cartoon of John Paul pregnant and others bore such messages as "love thy neighbour but use contraceptives".
A ROME parish priest has spoken publicly for the first lime about one of the city's best kept ecclesiastical "secrets". Mgr Mario Canciani confirmed this week that every Easter Monday he celebrates a special "mass of mercy" for the city's "thieves and prostitutes". He confessed to the unique mass during the presentation of his book in Rome The Life of a Priest.
A CHURCH nave collapsed this week in a village in southwestern France, killing seven people and injuring 11 during a concert of classical music. About 60 people were at the performance.
THE Pope this week beatified two Italian women and one Belgian, who dedicated their lives to the care of the sick and the poor. Annunciala Coccheli, Chiara Dina Bosatta and Marie Therese Haze all lived in the last century.