The synod has just begun but there are already early signs that many aspects of church teaching and praxis are coming under scrutiny with demands for change including a change in the language it uses Seventy synod fathers spoke in the first 24 hours raising many issues including the need for the

In a major break with past praxis almost 50 years after Paul VI first established the synod of bishops Pope Francis has given the synod fathers the key elements for synodality something akin to a bill of rights that creates a climate of freedom He did so at the start of the synod rsquo s first pl

ldquo Synod Assemblies are not meant to discuss beautiful and clever ideas or to see who is more intelligent rdquo Pope Francis told the 191 synod fathers from all continents gathered with him in St Peter rsquo s Basilica as they concelebrated mass on Sunday morning October 5 for the opening o

Speaking at a candlelight prayer vigil in St Peter rsquo s Square on the eve of the opening of the synod of bishops on the family Pope Francis made clear that he wants lsquo the synod fathers rsquo to listen attentively to God and to the cry of the people and to keep their sights fixed firmly on

ldquo A broad freedom of expression rdquo in ldquo a climate of respect for every position mutual charity and an authentic constructive sense rdquo will be the hallmarks of the extraordinary synod of bishops on the family that opens on October 5 nbsp Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri the Secretary

There is no world leader today truly free like Francis, or as original.

ldquo Nothing like this has happened in Hong Kong before I rsquo m just praying that it won rsquo t become like Tiananmen the situation is similar in many ways nbsp We must pray this does not happen rdquo This is what Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun told me by phone from Hong Kong on the evening

As the situation deteriorated in Hong Kong following police crackdown on protestors over the weekend Cardinal John Tong Hon the local bishop issued ldquo an urgent appeal rdquo to the government there ldquo to put the personal safety of fellow citizens as her prime concern rdquo and ldquo to

nbsp Not since the Second Vatican Council has a gathering of representatives of the world rsquo s Catholic bishops sparked such interest and controversy as the extraordinary synod of bishops on the family which opens in the Vatican on October 5 While the agenda is very wide public interest has ma

Pope Francis issued a heartfelt call to his brother Jesuits worldwide to ldquo row together rdquo with him as he rows with considerable effort in lsquo the barque of Peter rdquo and to ldquo pray a lot rdquo because ldquo the night and the powers of darkness are always close rdquo nbsp H