If it would not cause scandal or confusion among other Catholics, “a transsexual—even one who has undergone hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgery—may receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful.”

The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office announced its investigation into the priest has been closed with no charges filed.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, a key adviser to Pope Francis, denied that he had been tasked with drafting revisions to the rules governing the preparations for electing a new pope.

On the heels of the release of “Laudate Deum,” Pope Francis will travel to Dubai later this month to participate in the U.N. Climate Change conference, commonly known as COP28.

Pope Francis updated the statutes for the Pontifical Academy of Theology, which hadn't been revised in nearly 25 years, urging theologians to consider the challenges of ordinary people.

The synthesis report did not use the term “LGBTQ+” or even “homosexuality” and spoke only generally of issues related to “matters of identity and sexuality.”