The prospect of Russian Orthodox-Catholic church unification is unlikely says Russian Orthodox head of foreign relations. This is despite ongoing talks since 2013 between Pope Francis and the spiritual head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Although the two church leaders agree on many issues, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk says there are some Read more
Contemplative nuns are the subject of new instructions that have been presented at the Vatican. They were presented by Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo who is the secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. “Cor Orans” (“Praying Heart”) provides instructions on how to apply Pope Francis’s 2016 Apostolic Constitution – Read more
Priests, bishops and the pope must learn to leave their posts when it becomes necessary, says Pope Francis. He says he prays all bishops follow the example of the Apostle Paul with his obedience to the Holy Spirit and his love for his flock. “I think about myself [in relation to St Paul summoning the Read more
The morality of the global market system is being evaluated in a new Vatican document. The publication “Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestiones: Considerations for ethical discernment about some aspects of the current financial-economic system,” is said to be an effort to give more theological weight to Pope Francis’ criticisms that “this economy kills.” The Congregation for Read more
Chilean bishops say they are open to whatever Pope Francis proposes to overhaul the Chilean church. This includes removing bishops, reforming seminaries and paying financial reparation to victims of a clergy sex abuse and cover-up scandal. Representatives say they are humbled, pained and shamed for their own errors in handling abuse cases. Read more
Just over a week ago, three Chile abuse survivors met Pope Francis, and then gave an important press conference reflecting on the meeting. Juan Carlos Cruz, James Hamilton, and José Andres Murillo said Pope Francis had admitted he was “part of the problem”, and had pledged to do more in future. It’s a bit of Read more
Thirty Chilean bishops are in Rome to meet with Pope Francis. Francis summoned them to the Vatican last month. He wants to discuss short, medium and long-term reforms to the church. Francis has admitted he made “grave errors in judgment” about Bishop Juan Barros’s role in covering up sexual abuse perpetrated by Fr Fernando Karadima. Read more
A new documentary about Pope Francis by film-maker Wim Wenders shows Francis telling his own story. Francis looks directly into the camera as though he’s having a conversation with the audience. The documentary will be released in the US on 18 May. Read more
Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk of the Netherlands has written to Pope Francis criticising him for ‘creating confusion’ among the faithful and ‘endangering the unity of the church.’ Eijk was responding to Francis’s response this week to a delegation of German bishops about allowing the non-Catholic partners of Catholics to receive Communion in certain circumstances. Rather Read more
Women’s role in church life will be given greater focus thanks to an amendment Pope Francis has made to the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life. He has added a reference to the dicastery’s responsibility for promoting deeper reflection on the role of women in the church and society. “The dicastery Read more