The theologians, from throughout the world, issued a declaration at the end of a theological congress in Germany earlier this month.

The title of the gathering in Munich was "Opening the Council - Theology and Church under the Guiding Principle of the Second Vatican Council".

In a five-page declaration, 200 leading international theologians called for fundamental changes in the Church.

Reform of the Roman Curia must be expanded to a reform of the whole church and of church offices, they wrote.

Greater participation must be given to the laity and the synodal structures strengthened, the statement continued.

"Synodality must once again become a structural principle in the Church," the text underlined.

It must be fully implemented legally, must be enforceable and "practised at all Church levels".

Important Church decisions must not be made behind closed doors, the theologians agreed.

The theologians recalled Pope Francis's words that "Everyone must have a say in what concerns everyone".

Christoph Böttinger, a fundamental theologian from Eichstätt who presented the declaration, said it was addressed to all theologians, but also to the general public.

German Cardinal Karl Lehman told the congress that the Church's synodal structures must be strengthened at every level.

The cardinal, who was once an assistant to Karl Rahner, said this "synodality" was more important than possibly holding a Third Vatican Council.

There are great opportunities for the Church in a globalised world as long as it discards its centralist approach, he emphasised.

The council's decrees have not always been adequately applied or implemented, Cardinal Lehmann said.

German bishops' conference president Cardinal Reinhard Marx said Vatican II texts must be used as sources for further developing Church reform today.

In October, Pope Francis outlined his vision of a synodal Church at every level that listens, learns and shares mission.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Bavaria.by

They are hoping Pope Francis will discuss such issues when he meets President Barack Obama and addresses the US Congress in September.

The issues raised include immigration reform, economic injustice for low-wage workers, pervasive racism in US institutions and society, and mass incarceration.

One union leader said people in the United States are "as divided as we've ever been by race, by economics, by politics, by everything".

Pope Francis is seen as a force for reconciliation and reform.

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In September, the Pope will address a joint session of the US Congress and Senate, being the first Roman pontiff to do so.

What Francis might say on that occasion was previewed by Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga during a recent visit to Washington, DC.

The cardinal said he thinks "Congress will receive very well the advice [of the Pope] - even if there are some things that will not be comfortable".

"Even the congress people can listen to other voices, to counsels, to advisers. It's a human attitude that we have to develop," he explained.

The Religion News Service reported the cardinal saying both he and the Pope are aware of the opposition Francis faces from many activists and pundits in the US.

Nonetheless, polls show that the Pope is enormously popular with Catholics and the wider public, and across the political spectrum.

One topic that Francis could well touch on is political partisanship among US Catholics.

"For many Catholics, first is the political party, then is the Church," Cardinal Rodriguez said.

"I see this in some attitudes of citizens who are first Republicans or Democrats.

"Then comes Catholicism," said the cardinal, who leads the Pope's advisory council of cardinals.

"This is a big problem. Because we have to put everything in order.

"God is first, then all other human institutions."

Francis is also likely to make some pointed comments about economic inequality.

"Capitalism is not a god. It is not a divinity," Cardinal Rodriguez said.

"It is not a system that is perfect and does not need any modification.

"This system is fostering tremendous inequalities."

The Pope will likely promote an economy that supports middle class families and the poor, the cardinal added.

Other topics Francis is likely to address include welcoming migrants, protecting the environment and promoting dialogue, rather than ideology.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Catholic Herald

House speaker John Boehner announced the "historic visit" by Francis.

This will be the first time a Pope has addressed a joint meeting of Congress.

Francis will speak to members of the US Senate and House of Representatives together.

Mr Boehner said he was "truly grateful Pope Francis has accepted our invitation".

Other highlights during the Pope's US visit will include the canonisation of Blessed Junipero Serra and a visit to the United Nations in New York.

No official announcement of the details of these parts of Pope's US visit has been made.

But it has been announced that the Pope will participate in the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia on September 26-27.

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The 93 presidents have appealed directly to all 163 Catholic members of Congress, many of whom are graduates of Catholic universities.

"Catholic teaching values the human dignity and worth of all immigrants, regardless of legal status," the academics' letter said. "We remind you that no human being made in the image of God is illegal.

"The Vatican's Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church warns against the exploitation of immigrant workers and says 'immigrants are to be received as persons and helped, together with their families, to become a part of societal life'. We are part of an immigrant Church in an immigrant nation."

One of the signatories, John Garvey, president of the Catholic University of America, said: "One thing immigrants do for the American Catholic Church is they enrich the Church. They're keeping the Catholic Church fresh and the churches full. More and more they're the backbone of parish life."

Support for immigration reform from the Catholic academics comes as members of the House of Representatives are considering an immigration reform bill the Senate passed last month.

That bill would expand provisions for approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants and provide a "pathway to citizenship" as long as a series of new measures for security on the US-Mexico border, including addition of some 40,000 border patrol agents, is first arranged.

President Barack Obama has said that the House is unlikely to pass the bill before its annual August recess.

Religious leaders from some evangelical churches have joined their Catholic colleagues in advocating for reform.

One grouping of evangelical leaders, the Evangelical Immigration Table, is calling for reform that "respects the God-given dignity of every person" and "establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents".

Sources:

Catholic News Service

Yahoo! News

Religion News Service

Image: Stanford University

"There's a lot going on," says Brent Fulton. "But ... if political reform is able to move ahead, it should bode well for the Church. It should result in greater freedom and legal recognition."

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