Oceania and African delegates attending the Synod on Synodality have expressed their readiness to make their voices heard by the universal Church. The delegates emphasise that their communities already practise synodality and want to share their unique perspectives. Grace Wrakia, a representative of the Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, expressed Read more
The Unification Church could lose its legal status in Japan if the government has its way. The Japanese government has formally asked the court to remove Japan’s official recognition from the Church after a year-long probe into its activities. It had been watching the Unification Church closely since former prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated Read more
The first female president-delegate has presided at a Synod of Bishops assembly. Sister Maria de los Dolores Valencia Gomez (pictured) says her inclusion in the role at the Synod on Synodality shows the Church “has… something that places all of us at the same level”. Gomez led the Synod on Synodality assembly Friday morning in Read more
Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican has voiced appreciation for Pope Francis’s recent remarks regarding the catastrophic surprise attack by Hamas, saying the pontiff’s call for the release of hostages and his insistence on the right to self-defence filled a “vacuum”. Raphael Schutz, who has served as Israel’s Ambassador to the Holy See since 2021, told Read more
Caritas Jerusalem has, for security reasons, suspended all its operations following the recent violence but is drawing up an emergency plan to offer assistance as soon as the situation allows. “We want to express our deep concern about the escalating situation in the Holy Land, particularly the suffering of the most vulnerable individuals we support. Read more
Speaking at the Synod on Synodality, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich shared an introductory reflection on the “co-responsibility of the mission.” This is the subject of the third module, dedicated to section B2 of the Instrumentum laboris, or working document, which is being addressed starting today. B2 reads: “Co-responsibility in Mission: How can we better share gifts Read more
Pope Francis has commended the “little greatness” of St Thérèse of Lisieux in a new message focusing on the 19th-century Carmelite’s relevance for the Church today. St Thérèse’s “genius consists in leading us to what is central, essential and indispensable,” the pope wrote in an apostolic letter published Oct 15. The young saint, whose life Read more
Cherie Blair is challenging traditional Catholic teachings, calling on the Church to understand family needs more and open a debate on birth control. Blair is a barrister and women’s rights advocate. She spoke by video at a parallel Synod event, Spirit Unbounded, an assembly organised by the international reform network Blair began her speech praising Read more
The Vatican Synod assembly, a month-long event determining the Catholic Church’s future, kicked off on October 4. As the 364 attendees gathered at 35 round tables in the grand Paul VI Audience Hall, the initial three days were an intriguing mix of experimentation and camaraderie. “If we act like Jesus, we will testify to God’s Read more
Israel’s embassy to the Holy See has issued a stern warning to the Vatican. It cautions against the use of “linguistic ambiguities” and “parallelisms” that would equate the aggressors in the conflict with its victims. This warning comes in the wake of a massive and deadly offensive launched by Hamas, which has prompted Israel to Read more