Tensions between student demonstrators and authorities in Beijing rose as protests continued for broader democratic rights in Hong Kong in October. On Oct. 3 protesters accused police of allowing pro-government “thugs” to assault them in the city’s Mong Kok district.“Nothing
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inFrom Our Archives
Listen to the Spirit: Cardinal Walter Kasper on the Synod on the Family
Not since the Second Vatican Council has a gathering of representatives of the world’s Catholic bishops sparked such interest and controversy as the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, which opened in the Vatican on Oct. 5. While the agenda is very wide,
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Shock Waves in Rome
House arrest of former nuncio sends tremors through the Vatican establishment.
Posted inDispatches
Synod Hears Calls for Church to Change its Language
The synod has just begun but there are already early signs that many aspects of church teaching and praxis are coming under scrutiny with demands for change including a change in the language it uses Seventy synod fathers spoke in the first 24 hours raising many issues including the need for the
Posted inDispatches
Pope Gives Bishops a Synod ‘Bill of Rights’
In a major break with past praxis almost 50 years after Paul VI first established the synod of bishops Pope Francis has given the synod fathers the key elements for synodality something akin to a bill of rights that creates a climate of freedom He did so at the start of the synod rsquo s first pl
Posted inIn All Things
Pope Tells Synod Fathers: Let Us Not Thwart “God’s Dream” For His People
ldquo Synod Assemblies are not meant to discuss beautiful and clever ideas or to see who is more intelligent rdquo Pope Francis told the 191 synod fathers from all continents gathered with him in St Peter rsquo s Basilica as they concelebrated mass on Sunday morning October 5 for the opening o
Posted inIn All Things
Francis: Synod Fathers Must ‘Listen’; Do ‘Whatever’ Jesus Tells Them
Speaking at a candlelight prayer vigil in St Peter rsquo s Square on the eve of the opening of the synod of bishops on the family Pope Francis made clear that he wants lsquo the synod fathers rsquo to listen attentively to God and to the cry of the people and to keep their sights fixed firmly on
Posted inIn All Things
Cardinal Baldisseri: Bishops At The Synod Should Speak Freely, Clearly And With Courage
ldquo A broad freedom of expression rdquo in ldquo a climate of respect for every position mutual charity and an authentic constructive sense rdquo will be the hallmarks of the extraordinary synod of bishops on the family that opens on October 5 nbsp Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri the Secretary
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Francis the Diplomat
There is no world leader today truly free like Francis, or as original.
Posted inIn All Things
Cardinal Zen: “I’m Praying The Situation In Hong Kong Won’t Become Another Tiananmen”
ldquo Nothing like this has happened in Hong Kong before I rsquo m just praying that it won rsquo t become like Tiananmen the situation is similar in many ways nbsp We must pray this does not happen rdquo This is what Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun told me by phone from Hong Kong on the evening