World News
Pope urges peace in Iraq; prays Christians no longer be forced to flee
He also urged the Chaldean Catholic bishops in the region "to work tirelessly as builders of unity in all the provinces of Iraq, fostering dialogue and cooperation among all those engaged in public life, and contributing to healing existing divisions while preventing new ones from arising."
Synod members disagree on report’s opening to Communion for remarried
Australian Cardinal George Pell said the final report of the Synod of Bishops on the family did not create an opening for the divorced and civilly remarried to receive Communion. Other synod members took a different view and acknowledged that the paragraph in question was being read differently.
Synod report urges ‘accompaniment’ tailored to family situations
The 94-paragraph report approved Oct. 24 highlighted the role of pastors in helping couples understand church teaching, grow in faith and take responsibility for sharing the Gospel. It also emphasized how "pastoral accompaniment" involves discerning, on a case-by-case basis, the moral culpability of people not fully living up to the Catholic ideal.
Synod report has new emphasis, not changed doctrine, U.S. bishops say
Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, and Bishop Kurt Burnette of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey, met with journalists Oct. 24 at the Pontifical North American College.
Pope Francis preaches at Mass for close of Synod of Bishops
Read the pope's homily to conclude the synod in Rome, in which he warns of a “spirituality of illusion” in which people "can walk through the deserts of humanity without seeing what is really there," and in so doing "create other deserts."
Jesus’ disciples are called to lead without lecturing, pope says
Reflecting on the day's Gospel reading, which recalled Jesus' healing of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar from Jericho, Pope Francis said Christ is not content with giving the poor man alms, but preferred to "personally encounter him."
Synod had difficult moments as it tried to proclaim truth, pope says
At the end of the synod's final working session Oct. 24, Pope Francis was honest about the differences of opinion present among synod participants and about the tone of their discussions sometimes exceeding the bounds of charity. But he framed all those differences as an opportunity for learning.
Synod calls for greater promotion of women’s role in church
If the Catholic Church did more to recognize and promote women's responsibility within the church, it could help their status in societies as well, said the Synod of Bishops on the family.
Synod report highlights pastoral care of society’s marginalized
While they did not grab headlines, the elderly and people with disabilities, openness to life and the plight of migrants and refugees were also on the agenda of the Synod of Bishops on the family.
Synod shows solidarity with people of Middle East, Ukraine, Africa
Basic principles of human dignity are being violated repeatedly in the Middle East as conflict continues, particularly in Syria and Iraq, but also in Jerusalem and other areas of the Holy Land, said members of the Synod of Bishops on the family.