Mara Grassi told Pope Francis, “We wish to create a bridge to the church so that the church too can change its way of looking at our children, no longer excluding them but fully welcoming them.”

“Fratelli tutti,” the title of Pope Francis’s new encyclical is to be understood as including both men and women, the Vatican stated today in a front-page editorial in L’Osservatore Romano, its daily newspaper, headlined “an encyclical for all brothers and sisters.”

Vatican officials have publicly defended the agreement with enthusiasm. Privately, they are more sober in their analysis.

Pope Francis called on protestors to express their demands “peacefully” and appealed to government leaders to meet their "just aspirations."

Cardinal Tagle tested positive for Covid-19 on his arrival at Manila airport Sept. 10. He showed no symptoms, but is now in isolation.

Pope Francis: “A virus that does not recognize barriers, borders or cultural or political distinctions must be faced with a love without barriers, borders or distinctions.”