Aboard the papal plane, Pope Francis addresses questions about future travel, the doctrine of discovery, contraception and Germany’s Synodal Way.

“We will not tire of emphasizing that the church in Germany will not follow a ‘German special path’,” said a joint statement by the Synodal Presidium, the president of the German Bishops’ Conference and ZdK President Irme Stetter-Karp.

“It seems necessary to make it clear that the ‘Synodal Path’ in Germany does not have the power to compel bishops and the faithful to assume new modes of governance and new approaches to doctrine and morals,” the Vatican said.

Archbishop Gallagher on U.S.-Vatican relations, the Holy See joining the Paris climate agreement and where Pope Francis hopes to visit in the coming year.

The Vatican released a new policy consolidating the investment portfolios of all offices and keeping all current and future investments in line with the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.

Four years after the Holy See and China reached a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops, Archbishop Paul Gallagher says the results are “not terribly impressive.”