My first synod was in 1985, when Pope John Paul II called an extraordinary synod to reflect on the Second Vatican Council 20 years after it ended. I have covered almost every synod since. It has never been easy. Meetings of the synod are usually closed, and the information released to the press is carefully Read more
Pope Francis, who has a knack for dropping bombshells in July when his predecessors would normally leave town for a summer holiday. He has again started off the month with a bang by naming Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández of La Plata (Argentina) as the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Read more
Despite advanced age and questionable health, Pope Francis keeps up a busy schedule of activities that looks to get even busier. The past several weeks surely have been extremely frustrating for Pope Francis. First of all, his tireless and ever more urgent appeals for an end to the fighting in Ukraine, which began in late Read more
People in the Vatican often use biblical allusions to express their expectations. Such was the case of a top Roman Curia official on March 19, just a few hours after Pope Francis had published his new apostolic constitution to fully reorganize the Church’s central bureaucracy. He was more than willing to give his views on Read more
While acknowledging the Vatican budget is being trimmed to fit the post-pandemic economy, Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero SJ says rumours suggesting the Vatican is facing a massive default are not true. Nor is it true that an internal analysis of the economy given to Pope Francis places the Vatican’s annual deficit at risk of growing Read more
A new apostolic constitution for the Roman Curia which will shake up church’s central administration is almost ready to be published. Pope Francis and the council of cardinals propose all activity in the Roman Curia should be united under a simple mission: evangelisation. The new constitution, “Praedicate Evangelium” (“Preach the Gospel”), is expected to set Read more
A new book claims 80 percent of Vatican priests are gay – although not necessarily sexually active – and details how they adhere to an unspoken code of the “closet”. “Inside the Closet” will be released in eight languages across 20 countries next Wednesday – the same day as the Vatican conference on sexual abuse Read more
Pope Francis has released three cardinals from the C9 – his Council of Cardinals. Members of the Council (known as the C9 because there are nine cardinals making up the papal advisory group) advise the pope on Church governance and reform. Its work places a special emphasis on the reform of Pastor Bonus, the apostolic Read more
Some are cautiously looking forward to it with hopeful expectations. Others are fearing it with dread and despair. It’s the upcoming reform and restructuring of the Roman Curia. As Massimo Faggioli recently pointed out, it could be one of the most significant structural changes Pope Francis makes in a determined effort — contested by some Read more
A new papal diplomat department inside the Vatican’s Secretariat of State has been established. The department will oversee papal diplomats’ selection and work, career advancement and working conditions. Named the “Section for the Diplomatic Staff of the Holy See”, the new department will be led by Archbishop Jan Romeo Pawlowski. About 300 priest diplomats will Read more