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Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, center, and bishops from around the world walk in procession from St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican in this Oct. 7, 2019, file photo. Pope Francis has approved a revision of the process for the celebrations of the Synod of Bishops, emphasizing the need to expand reflections and consultations on a diocesan level.

Vatican revises synod process, beginning with local consultation

VATICAN CITY -- Approving the revision of the entire process of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis has asked that it begin with serious, widespread consultations with laypeople on the diocesan level.

Jesuit Father Stephen Chow, provincial of the Jesuits’ Chinese province, was named bishop of Hong Kong by Pope Francis May 17, 2021. The 61-year-old bishop-designate was born in Hong Kong. He is pictured in a 2016 photo.

Pope Francis names Jesuit educator bishop of Hong Kong

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has named Jesuit Father Stephen Chow Sau-yan, a native of Hong Kong and provincial of the Jesuits' Chinese province, to be the new bishop of Hong Kong.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former secretary of St. John Paul II, prays at the spot of the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt against the Polish pope, after placing flowers in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 13, 2021. Cardinal Dziwisz and a small group of Catholics gathered in the square to mark the 40th anniversary of the shooting. In 1981 then-Msgr. Dziwisz cradled the Pope after the shooting.

Polish pilgrims mark anniversary of attempt to assassinate St. John Paul

VATICAN CITY - An elderly man stood alone in St. Peter's Square May 13, using his wooden rosary beads to pray by a simple plaque marking the place where St. John Paul II was shot exactly 40 years earlier.

This Oct. 14, 2020, file photo shows the Vatican City State criminal court during the opening of the trial of Father Gabriele Martinelli and Msgr. Enrico Radice. Father Martinelli is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a younger student at the Vatican's St. Pius X Pre-Seminary. Msgr. Enrico Radice, former rector of the seminary, has been accused of obstructing the investigation into the younger priest. Defendants in the court are normally seated on the bench at right.

Former students testify at Vatican trial on abuse in minor seminary

VATICAN CITY - Four former students at the minor seminary located in the Vatican testified May 12 at the ongoing trial of Father Gabriele Martinelli, who is accused of sexually abusing a younger student at the St. Pius X Pre-Seminary.

In a video message played during the "Vax Live" concert, Pope Francis repeated his call to temporarily suspend patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines so they can be manufactured in poorer countries.

Put health before profits by making vaccine more available, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis called for a global fight against the virus of "closed nationalism" and lack of concern for the poor by supporting "the temporary suspension of intellectual property rights" that prevent the widespread manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines.

Pope thanks health care workers, urges equal access to care for all

Pope thanks health care workers, urges equal access to care for all

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for all those who are committed to caring for the sick and supporting those in great need.

New Swiss Guard members stand at attention during their swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2021.

Pope Francis tells new Swiss Guards they represent a church that welcomes

VATICAN CITY -- Meeting new recruits to the Swiss Guard, Pope Francis thanked the young men for having chosen to serve the successor of St. Peter and he thanked all the guards for their diligence and service.

Pope Francis to institute formal 'ministry of catechist'

Pope Francis to institute formal 'ministry of catechist'

VATICAN CITY -- While millions of laypeople around the world are recognized as catechists in their parish or diocese, Pope Francis is preparing to formally institute the "ministry of catechist."

A cardinal carries his biretta as he arrives for a consistory with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this June 28, 2018, file photo. The pope has updated rules for the Vatican court system so that cardinals and bishops accused of a crime can now be tried by the Vatican City court, just like priests and laypeople can be.

Pope Francis updates Vatican judicial laws so cardinals, bishops can face trial

Updating the laws that govern the Vatican's civil judicial system, Pope Francis stated that cardinals and bishops accused of a crime can now be tried in a Vatican court.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, leaves the opening session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican in this Oct 3, 2018, file photo. Cardinal Ouellet announced plans for a major international conference at the Vatican in 2022 on the theology of the priesthood.

Cardinal Ouellet unveils major Vatican conference on priesthood slated for 2022

VATICAN CITY -- Increasing vocations to the priesthood, improving the way laypeople and priests work together and ensuring that service, not power, motivates the request for ordination are all possible outcomes of a major symposium being planned by the Vatican in February 2022.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, speaks at a symposium on religious freedom hosted by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome April 3, 2019. Cardinal Parolin spoke about divisions in the church, the Vatican's approach to China and other issues in an interview that aired April 5, 2021, on Spain's COPE radio network.

Cardinal Parolin says church divisions stem from misunderstanding 'reform'

VATICAN CITY -- Three days after the preacher of the papal household called on Catholics to repent for the ways they are dividing the church, the Vatican secretary of state said the divisions are real and they are harmful.

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