A gathering of 277 bishops, clergy, religious and lay people in Australia has just completed four years of consultations, discernment and drafting ideas at its second and final assembly. What did we learn from their efforts?

Chileans will get to vote on Sunday as to whether or not to adopt a new constitution. Chilean Catholics face a document that supports some Catholic ideas of equality and community yet also codifies abortion and euthanasia.

Jesus’ call to spread the Gospel should fill all Christians, especially those within the church hierarchy, with a sense of wonder and gratitude, Pope Francis said.

“Fraternal correction and dialogue” were something very positive, Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, said, but a “public denunciation” was not helpful and only led to further polarization.

The pope will create 20 new cardinals on Aug. 27. Sixteen of them are eligible to vote in a papal conclave, and 11 are from or based in countries outside Europe and North America.

Two state-sponsored church bodies in China have elected new leaders, who promised to invigorate the Catholic faithful pastorally in line with the socialist principles of the Chinese Communist Party.