The Catholic Church cannot be credible in its mission of proclaiming Christ unless it acknowledges its mistakes and bends down “to heal the wounds we have caused by our sins,” Pope Francis said.

German Cardinal Gerhard Müller, a former Vatican doctrinal chief, cast sharp criticism on the Synod on Synodality days ahead of the synod’s second and final session starting Oct. 2.

The Vatican’s decision to expel 10 important members from the once-powerful Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a scandal-plagued society of apostolic life founded in Peru in 1971, was received with shock by many in Peru.

Some members of the Synod of Bishops may need to let go of old ways of doing things and others may need to let go of a desire to make everything new, Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe said at the pre-synod retreat.

In his homily during Mass Sept. 29 in Brussels, Pope Francis strayed from his prepared text to urge bishops to hide nothing, “condemn abuses” and assist perpetrators in getting help.

In the presence of the late king's nephew, the current King Philippe, and others, the pope praised King Baudouin's courage to step down to “not sign a murderous law.”