Pope Francis, showing plans to stay on, starts new Catholic reform process
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis approved a new three-year process to consider reforms for the global Catholic Church, the Vatican said on Saturday, in a sign the 88-year-old pontiff plans to continue on as Pope despite his ongoing battle with double pneumonia. Francis has extended the work of the Synod of Bishops, a signature initiative […]
Catholic Church: Priests prepare to bring synodality from the Vatican to parishes around the world
Even as some Catholics look at the synod with scepticism, others don’t know what it means or haven’t heard of it at all. Pope Francis is tasking parish priests with changing that. CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports…
Essay: Before tackling troublesome issues, Pope Francis insists on synodality
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE says – in an article first published on Religion News Service – that he feels like he is on the Titanic while the crew is meeting to talk about how they should listen to one another…
Next steps: Pope Francis’ synod made few waves, but organisers say it’s already changing the church
The controversy over blessing gay couples is just another example of synodality at work, according to Sr. Nathalie Becquart. CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports….
Catholic women: A high-profile French nun is inspiring hope. But can she really bring change?
NICOLE WINFIELD, of Associated Press, reports on the hopes and challenges surrounding Sister Nathalie Becquart…
Pope allows women to vote at upcoming bishops’ meeting
Vatican City AP Pope Francis has decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops, an historic reform that reflects his hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church. Francis approved changes to the norms governing the Synod of Bishops, […]
Essay: What is the Synod of Bishops? A Catholic priest and theologian explains
WILLIAM CLARK, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the College of the Holy Cross in the US, explains in an article first published on The Conversation…
Nun named to voting position at Vatican praises “brave” Pope
Rome, Italy AP A French nun who has become the first woman to hold a voting position at the Vatican said Wednesday that her appointment is evidence the “patriarchal mindset is changing” as more and more women assume high-level decision-making responsibilities in the Catholic hierarchy. Sister Nathalie Becquart said during a news conference that her […]
French nun first woman appointed to Catholic Church’s Synod of Bishops
Religion Unplugged Sr Nathalie Becquart, a French nun, was appointed as under-secretary for the Synod of Bishops on Saturday. The decision has been divisive for Catholics, some seeing this as a progressive step forward for female empowerment in the church and others arguing it’s an inappropriate concession. Pope Francis and Sr Nathalie Becquart in 2018. […]
Essay: Amazonian bishops condemn attacks on rainforest and Indigenous peoples
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published on Religion News Service, looks back at this week’s Amazon Synod…