There is “a wonderful spirit” at the synod and Cardinal Nichols thinks this is due to the fact that “we’ve gone from talking about young people and from talking to young people, to talking with them. In a strange sort of way it’s become what Pope Francis means by synodality.”

The U.S. bishops need to revise—or replace— "Faithful Citizenship" in order to better reflect the teaching of Pope Francis and to respond to the authoritarian populist nationalism of Donald Trump and his administration.

The bishops of Virginia's two Catholic dioceses said in a joint statement Oct. 24 that they wanted to assure Catholics in the state and the public "we are cooperating with the attorney general's office."

The Vatican said only that Francis had "relieved (Holley) from the pastoral governance" of the diocese and named Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz to replace him temporarily.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household, will direct the Ignatian style retreat, the U.S.C.C.B. announced Oct. 23.

The proposed statement, "Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love -- A Pastoral Letter Against Racism," will be considered for approval during the bishops' Nov. 12-14 fall general meeting in Baltimore.