Focus

  • Dream of ‘synodality’ is a fruit of Vatican II

    Oct 21, 2022

    While the term “synodality” is not found in any of the 16 documents of the Second Vatican Council, the council’s vision and definition of the Church is at the heart of what synodality is, said Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops.

  • No true development without education

    Oct 14, 2022

    In conjunction with World Teachers’ Day (October 5), UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, spoke to Vatican Media about the role of schools in promoting integral human development.

  • Having fewer but more effective churches

    Oct 14, 2022

    The 57 urban parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are embarking on a two-year listening and discernment process to determine how well their ministries and pastoral services meet the needs of the neighbourhoods in which they are located.

  • Synodal virtues: Valuing and extending theological education

    Oct 07, 2022

    The synodal vision that is emerging in region after region of the Catholic Church worldwide stresses that many different voices need to be heard if we are to fulfil our vocation to be the pilgrim People of God.

  • ‘Let us trust in our people’

    Oct 07, 2022

    The head of the Vatican’s synod office says that when it comes to hot-button issues such as the reception of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics and the blessing of same-sex couples, discussion cannot be limited to doctrinal concerns, but must also include pastoral considerations.

  • Synthesis report complete, but bishop finds synodal path is just beginning

    Sep 30, 2022

    While the report summarising tens of thousands of US listening sessions in the first phase of the Catholic Church’s synodal process has been submitted to the Vatican, the experience of synodality is just beginning.

  • ‘Full members of the Church’: Catholics with disabilities contribute to Synod on Synodality

    Sep 30, 2022

    Catholics with disabilities delivered to Pope Francis a report they prepared for the Synod on Synodality. The document was a synthesis of an online listening session held in May with 35 people with disabilities, coming from 20 countries and spanning five continents.

  • A listening Church depends upon a plain speaking people

    Sep 23, 2022

    Unless plain speaking is universally accepted, received and adopted in written summaries, Rome will struggle to be informed of the views it seeks from the People of God.

  • We don’t want to rewrite dogma, but move the discussion forward

    Sep 23, 2022

    In an exclusive interview with “La Croix”, the bishop of Munich and close advisor to Pope Francis says German Catholics “don’t want to rewrite dogma, but move the discussion forward”.

  • Traditional young Catholics in Belgium contest synod survey

    Sep 17, 2022

    A group of traditional-minded young Catholics in Belgium has protested against the country’s national synthesis of the synodal process, saying that certain issues such as the ordination of women go way too far and are against Church teaching.