Morning Catholic must-reads: 02/03/15

Pope Francis prayed for a “rapid end to the intolerable brutality” in Syria and Iraq at yesterday’s Angelus (full video).

Chaldean Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo has denied reports that ISIS has killed 15 kidnapped Assyrian Christians.

The Pope referred to money as “the Devil’s dung” in an address to Italy’s cooperatives confederation on Saturday (full video).

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has said that “every party has to be tested on its approach to immigration” during Britain’s May general election.

R Jared Staudt says St Gregory of Narek “is the first Doctor of the Church to have lived outside direct communion with the Bishop of Rome”.

Damian Thompson argues that an Italian media “hit job” on Cardinal George Pell shows he is “upsetting all the right people” (John Allen).

And a chapel designed by Antoni Gaudí will open in Chile in 2017.

Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day