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
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 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
Posted inIn All Things
Cardinal Tong Calls on Hong Kong’s Government to Exercise Restraint, Listen to the People
As the situation deteriorated in Hong Kong following police crackdown on protestors over the weekend Cardinal John Tong Hon the local bishop issued ldquo an urgent appeal rdquo to the government there ldquo to put the personal safety of fellow citizens as her prime concern rdquo and ldquo to
Posted inIn All Things
Cardinal Kasper: Some Fear a Domino Effect at the Synod on the Family
nbsp Not since the Second Vatican Council has a gathering of representatives of the world rsquo s Catholic bishops sparked such interest and controversy as the extraordinary synod of bishops on the family which opens in the Vatican on October 5 While the agenda is very wide public interest has ma
Posted inIn All Things
Pope Calls on Fellow Jesuits to “Row Together” With Him
Pope Francis issued a heartfelt call to his brother Jesuits worldwide to ldquo row together rdquo with him as he rows with considerable effort in lsquo the barque of Peter rdquo and to ldquo pray a lot rdquo because ldquo the night and the powers of darkness are always close rdquo nbsp H
Posted inIn All Things
Pope Deposes Controversial Bishop Of Ciudad Del Este In Paraguay
Pope Francis has deposed the controversial bishop of Ciudad del Este in Paraguay Monsignor Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano by relieving him of his duties as bishop of that diocese and declaring the see vacant nbsp The bishop was accused not only of incardinating a priest into his diocese in 2005