Cardinal Angelo Becciu was convicted of financial malfeasance and sentenced to more than five years in prison.

"I do not intend to publish an apostolic exhortation. What we have approved is enough," Pope Francis said. Instead, he ordered the publication of the synod's final document.

“I am convinced that we cannot wait to take steps forward for the empowerment of women in the church” by distinguishing what requires ordination and what does not, Cardinal Fernández told about 100 synod members.

The Vatican and the Chinese government are renewing their agreement on the appointment of bishops for four years.

“We know that the Holy Father has expressed that at this time the issue of the female diaconate is not mature and has asked that we not entertain this possibility for now,” Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández told the synod Oct. 21.

Pope Francis will welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy back to the Vatican Oct. 11.

The study groups are investigating questions such as how to improve seminary education, ministry to LGBTQ Catholics and possible ministry roles for women in the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis said he wanted to respond to a "storm of chattering" that had developed around his expansion of synod membership.

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.

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.