POPE FRANCIS

Since Pius XII, the world has got used to the Vatican's ambiguities. Now Pope Francis has chosen not to mention the persecuted Rohingya during his visit to Myanmar, creating another "riddle" in the Catholic church's struggles with truth telling. He might still bring the issue up while in Bangladesh, but the correction will be felt as having more to do with a diplomatic move than with concern for the humanitarian disaster unfolding.

The world looks as if it has lost its moral compass. Pope Francis is respected by all, believers or non-believers, but he lost an opportunity to help lessen the weight of the vacuum we find ourselves in.