For the first time, leading clergy of the Anglican World Communion are holding their central meeting in Rome. As announced by the Anglican Church in Canterbury, a meeting with Pope Francis is also planned at the Primates’ Meeting next week (29 April to 3 May). A meeting with the Secretary General of the Catholic World Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Cardinal Mario Grech’
Vatican reshuffles Synod process, pushes controversial issues to 2025
Monday, March 18th, 2024
The Vatican has postponed discussions on contentious doctrinal, ethical and pastoral issues until June 2025. It has redirected the focus of the upcoming synod towards synodality itself. The decision comes amidst growing anticipation about key matters such as women’s access to the diaconate and LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Church. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich clarified that the Read more
Synodality will change the Church
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023
At the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich emphasised the transformative potential of the openness and freedom experienced during the gathering. The Synod witnessed vigorous debates during small-group discussions. However Hollerich, a key figure in the month-long Vatican assembly, highlighted that even in the face of disagreements alternative solutions were found. “To Read more
Vatican Synod: Tensions, disagreements and walkouts
Monday, October 30th, 2023
Tensions have erupted within Pope Francis’ Vatican Synod on the future of the Catholic Church with reports of disagreements and delegates storming out of the room. The roughly 450 bishops and lay delegates involved in the October 4-29 Synod of Bishops have faced a series of disagreements. Principally, the participation of the laity and questions Read more
Diverse perspectives emerge at Vatican Synod
Thursday, October 12th, 2023
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
Cardinal leading Catholics’ churchwide consultation wrestles with tradition and change
Monday, December 5th, 2022
Every summit of bishops called by Pope Francis has been ripe with expectations about the possible reforms — and novelties — that it might introduce in the over 2,000-year-old institution. The pope’s latest effort, the Synod on Synodality, now underway and continuing through the end of 2024, has already fomented ardent debate on some of Read more
Head of Vatican Synod office: ‘Let us trust in our people’
Thursday, September 29th, 2022
The head of the Vatican synod office says both doctrinal concerns and pastoral considerations are important when it comes to hot-button issues. Questions about the reception of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics and the blessing of same-sex couples are examples Cardinal Mario Grech (pictured) mentions. “These issues are not to be understood simply in Read more
Synod official expresses confidence in Germany’s Synodal Path
Thursday, September 1st, 2022Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, said he continues to have confidence in the Synodal Path of the Catholic Church in Germany. “Perhaps the communication on the reform project could have been better,” Grech said in an interview with Anna Mertens, editor of the German Catholic news agency KNA, published on 29 Read more
Synod cannot ignore difficult questions
Monday, May 23rd, 2022
The cardinal tasked by Pope Francis with overseeing the Church’s global synod says he is not worried about the German reform process stressing that the synod cannot ignore difficult questions. Cardinal Mario Grech said that the criticisms of Germany are part and parcel of what it means to be a synodal Church which offers a Read more
Priests invited to model synodal attitudes
Thursday, March 24th, 2022
Priests throughout the world should play an active role in contributing to the synodal process, according to two senior Catholic prelates. In a letter addressed to all Catholic priests, Cardinal Mario Grech and Archbishop Lazarus You Heung-sik said priests should try to help show the church as a welcoming home inhabited by the Lord and Read more