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February 8, 2021

Pope Francis gives a woman a vote in next synod of bishops

Xaviere Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart attends a news conference at the Vatican in this Oct. 9, 2018, file photo. Last May Sister Becquart was one of six consultants appointed by Pope Francis to the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. Five of those appointed were women, and it was the first time women had served in that role.

VATICAN CITY -- Xaviere Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart will not be the first woman undersecretary of a major Vatican office, but she will be the first woman with a right to vote at a meeting of the Synod of Bishops.

Published in Faith
October 2, 2019

Pope Francis names Maltese bishop as pro-secretary of Synod of Bishops

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, makes an announcement at the Holy See Press Office Oct. 2, 2019. Cardinal Baldisseri announced that Pope Francis has named Maltese Bishop Mario Grech as pro-secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops. He will eventually succeed Cardinal Baldisseri as secretary-general of the synod.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, Malta, as pro-secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, the Vatican said.

Published in Vatican
April 13, 2019

Discovering the path of your life

A Christian’s first vocation is a call to friendship with Jesus, the Pope said, and closely related to that is the call to serve others. That may manifest itself in any number of vocations, from the priesthood to religious life, to marriage and helping others.

VATICAN CITY - Within the universal Christian vocation of serving God and serving others, God handcrafts a specific calling for each person, a vocation that fits his or her personality and abilities, Pope Francis said.

Published in Call to Service
October 24, 2018

Editorial: A chance to change

Italian synod observer Federica Ancona is pictured with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, at the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 19.

From the Pope on down, sentiment is growing to more fully integrate women into the everyday life of the male-dominated Church. So far, though, it’s been a lot of talk and too little action. Events at this month’s Synod of Bishops on youth illustrate that point.

Published in Editorial
October 16, 2018

'Watering down' church teaching won't attract young people, Cardinal Sarah says

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, is pictured after a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 16. Cardinal Sarah told the synod that just because some young people disagree with Catholic morality does not mean the church's teachings are unclear or should change.
VATICAN – Just because some young people disagree with Catholic moral teaching, including in the area of sexuality, does not mean the church's teachings are unclear or should change, Cardinal Robert Sarah told the Synod of Bishops.
Published in International
October 15, 2018

Salvadoran archbishop asks Pope to make Romero first Latin American 'doctor of the church'

A man holding a portrait of St. Oscar Romero prays during an Oct. 13 Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua.
VATICAN – Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador asked Pope Francis to proclaim St. Oscar Romero the church's first Latin American "doctor of the church."
Published in Faith
October 10, 2018

Synod of Bishops can make 'deep and profound change', Luxembourg archbishop says

Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg attends a news conference to discuss the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 10.
VATICAN – At a Synod of Bishops where "cultural shift," "epochal change" and "massive challenge" are almost buzz phrases, Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg said, "I'm very optimistic."
Published in International
October 5, 2018

German Cardinal Marx: Damage of abuse scandal caused by church leadership, not media

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich arrives for the opening session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct 3.

ROME (CNS) -- The days of making "weak excuses" in response to the sexual abuse crisis are over, said German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising.

Published in News
September 18, 2018

Pope Francis gives new vision for Synod of Bishops

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, speaks during a Sept. 18 Vatican news conference to announce synod changes. Also pictured is Greg Burke, Vatican spokesman. Pope Francis has issued an apostolic constitution, updating the rules of how the synod is prepared for, conducted and implemented.
VATICAN – The Synod of Bishops increasingly should be a structure for listening to the Catholic faithful, demonstrating a local bishop's concern for the entire church and a means of expressing all the bishops' unity with the pope, Pope Francis said.
Published in International
July 18, 2018

Territorial borders pose challenge for Catholic Church in Amazon basin

Bolivia's Aymara people attend the inauguration ceremony of Binational Border Service Center in late April in Desaguadero, Peru.
PUERTO MALDONADO, Peru – On a Sunday night in early July, four men – two of them indigenous – were brutally murdered in Assis, a tiny Brazilian town on the border with Peru.
Published in International
July 16, 2018

Pope Francis nominates presidents-delegate for upcoming Synod

Pictured are four cardinals who have been appointed by Pope Francis to preside over sessions of the October 2018 Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment. From left are Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, Iraq; Cardinal Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina, Madagascar; Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar; and Cardinal John Ribat of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
VATICAN CITY – As his delegates to preside over sessions of the Synod of Bishops in October, Pope Francis has chosen four cardinals from countries where young people are facing special challenges.
Published in Vatican
May 14, 2018

Young people in the church need to be heard, not silenced, Pope says

Young people wave as Pope Francis leads the "Regina Coeli" from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square May 13 at the Vatican.
VATICAN – The Catholic Church must not keep young men and women at a distance, but instead must learn to listen to them, Pope Francis said.
Published in International
May 7, 2018

Theologians call for regular consultation of laity in church decisions

Archbishop Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved the publication of "Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church", a document calling on the church to be more 'synodal'.
VATICAN – The Catholic Church needs to seek the input, commitment and talents of all of its members if it is to be truly catholic and to evangelize effectively, said a new document from the International Theological Commission.
Published in Canada
April 19, 2018

Quebec bishops have ‘open discussion’ on married priests

Bishops Simard (right) said discussion among the bishops was prompted by Pope Francis’ decision last November to open the debate whether viri probati, married men of proven faith, could be ordained under special circumstances. Pope Francis was acting on a request from Cardinal Claudio Hummes (right), president of the Episcopal Commission for the Amazon in Brazil.

OTTAWA – The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec have discussed the ordination of married men to the priesthood, but have reached no conclusions, said the Assembly’s president.

Published in Canada
April 11, 2018

Pontifical Commission for Latin America proposes synod on women

Pope Francis greets a blind woman who is 99 years old along the parade route in Trujillo, Peru, Jan. 20. At the end of their plenary meeting March 6-9 at the Vatican, members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America proposed that the church hold a Synod of Bishops "on the theme of the woman in the life and mission of the church."
VATICAN – The Catholic Church in Latin America must recognize and appreciate the role of women and end the practice of using them solely as submissive laborers in the parish, said members of a pontifical commission.
Published in International
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