Women’s votes at synods of bishops should be sought and they should have a larger role, say two Rome-based umbrella groups representing about a million Catholic religious from around the world. The Union of Superiors General for priests and brothers and the International Union of Superiors General for sisters and nuns are working on a Read more
Digital missionaries could help the Church become part of the digital world. In an update about the current Youth Synod meeting in Rome, Dr Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communications, says a constant theme is focusing on digital communications. Ruffini says the issue of the pastoral care of young people in the Read more
Bishops should waste time to connect with young people, 54 year-old Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Kenya says. Speaking to his fellow bishops at the synod on youth, Mulheria noted: “There’s a lot of fury that goes on in discussing what we should do for the young people, what we should propose to them, what do Read more
Some married men would become priests if they were invited to, a Belgian bishop told the Synod of Bishops on behalf of Belgium’s bishops’ conference. Bishop Jean Kockerols said the vocations of Christian marriage and “celibacy for the kingdom” of God “deserve to be equally promoted by the church.” Kockerols said Christians are expected to Read more
The synod’s final document on young people, faith and vocational discernment will be drafted by 12 synod members including Australian archbishop Peter Comensoli. The document will be given to Pope Francis. Those preparing the final document include five cardinals, three bishops and four priests who come from or work in Italy, India, Ghana, Ukraine, Mexico, Cuba, Read more
The Youth Synod’s youngest cardinal, 51-year-old Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga from Central African Republic, says the key question for the synod to answer is “What is God trying to tell us through young people?” The synod of 267 voting bishops, priests and religious brothers, plus 72 experts and observers, is meeting at the Vatican until 28 Read more
A US archbishop says the upcoming Youth Synod should be cancelled and its programme revised, given the abuse crisis in today’s Church. Publishing his views in the Italian newspaper Il Foglio, Archbishop Charles Chaput said: “After the Pennsylvania statewide grand jury report and abuse problems in Chile, Germany and elsewhere, the Church is in turmoil. Read more
This week, Bishop Steve Lowe, Bishop of Hamilton, will leave for Rome to attend the 2018 Synod of Bishops which this year is focused on young people. Pope Francis announced the theme of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment” on 6 October 2016. This Read more
Sex abuse and economic scandals involving the Church are driving younger people away, Pope Francis admitted to a gathering of young Estonians during his visit to the Balkans this week. “We know – and you have told us – that many young people do not turn to us for anything because they don’t feel we Read more
Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Sir John Ribat of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. one of four presidents-delegate for the October Synod of Bishops. Climate change is a key issue for the pope and Ribat has been outspoken about the effects that rising ocean levels have had on his people. The other three president delegates are Louis Read more