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Voices

Gerard O’Connell is America’s 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.

Italian Cardinal Coccopalmerio greets new Cardinal Langlois of Les Cayes, Haiti, during consistory at Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Dispatches
Gerard O’Connell
One of the Vatican rsquo s top canon lawyers at the Synod of Bishops on the Family says the current process for the annulment of marriages in the Catholic Church could be streamlined and expanded to the benefit of very many people whose marriages have broken down This could be one of the positive f
Does Democracy Have a Prayer? Catholic youth join demonstrators outside a government office in Hong Kong on Sept. 30.
Signs Of the Times
Gerard O’Connell
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
WEDDING INVITATION. Pope Francis presides at the wedding of 20 couples on Sept. 14.
Gerard O’Connell
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,
Vatican Dispatch
Gerard O’Connell
House arrest of former nuncio sends tremors through the Vatican establishment.
Cardinal Kasper and other prelates leave morning session of extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican, Oct. 7.
Dispatches
Gerard O’Connell
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
Pope Francis greets prelates as he arrives for the afternoon session on the first working day of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 6. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Dispatches
Gerard O’Connell
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
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to open extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
In All Things
Gerard O’Connell
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
Pope Francis uses incense to venerate an icon of the Presentation of Jesus as he celebrates a Mass to open the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 5. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
In All Things
Gerard O’Connell
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
In All Things
Gerard O’Connell
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
Vatican Dispatch
Gerard O’Connell
There is no world leader today truly free like Francis, or as original.