Pope opens new debates on Catholic Church's future

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1727885657000AFP__20240907__36FT6B8__v3__Preview__TopshotPngVaticanPopeReligion.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pope Francis looks down as he leads holy mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on September 8, 2024.  Tiziana Fabi, AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pope Francis looks down as he leads holy mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on September 8, 2024.  <em>Tiziana Fabi, AFP/File</em></span></span></span>VATICAN CITY, Holy See -- Pope Francis launched fresh consultations Wednesday on the future of the Roman Catholic Church, which faces pressure over the role of women and the ongoing scourge of clerical child abuse.</div><p>The General Assembly of the Synod, comprising 368 religious and lay people -- including women -- from around 100 countries, will hold closed-door debates at the Vatican until October 27.</p><p>The synod had already gathered for a month-long assembly in October 2023, after a three-year worldwide consultation among Catholics to help guide the institution through the 21st century.</p><p>It is a personal project of the pope, 87, who will have the final say on any doctrinal changes that ensue.</p><p>Last year, the assembly addressed themes as varied as attitudes towards LGBTQ people, polygamy, the ordination of married men and the fight against the sexual abuse of children by priests.</p><p>Although the body resisted pressure to allow women to become deacons -- clergy who are able to celebrate baptisms, marriages and funerals but not masses -- calls continue for more visibility and space for women in an institution still run by men.</p><p>The meeting comes shortly after the pope drew criticism during a trip to Belgium of his stance on women and what he has called a &quot;murderous law&quot; authorizing abortion.</p><p>But no decisions are expected any time soon.</p><p>After an outcry among conservatives at the pope&#x27;s decision last December to allow blessings of same-sex couples in some circumstances, Francis has entrusted the most sensitive issues to working groups that will report back next June.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/29/pope-ends-thorny-belgium-visit-with-large-stadium-mass-1827">READ: Pope denounces abuse cover-ups as he wraps thorny Belgium visit</a></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Place of listening&#x27; -</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3070295"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><p>Since becoming head of the world&#x27;s almost 1.4 billion Catholics in 2013, the Jesuit has sought to reform the Church&#x27;s governance -- but has encountered major internal resistance.</p><p>Launching the assembly with a mass in St Peter&#x27;s Square on Wednesday morning, Francis urged participants to enter the discussions with an open mind.</p><p>&quot;Let us be careful not to see our contributions as points to defend at all costs or agendas to be imposed,&quot; he said, warning of the risk of &quot;locking ourselves into dialogues among the deaf&quot;.</p><p>He added that the meeting was &quot;not a parliamentary assembly, but rather a place of listening in communion&quot;.</p><p>The assembly will deliver their conclusions on October 26.</p><p>On the eve of the talks, Francis held a &quot;penitential&quot; vigil attended by around 2,500 people in St Peter&#x27;s Basilica.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/10/1/pope-francis-asks-pardon-for-abuse-treatment-of-women-313">READ: Pope Francis, ahead of Vatican summit, asks pardon for abuse, treatment of women</a></div><p>There, he again asked forgiveness and expressed his &quot;shame&quot; for the abuse by priests that has overshadowed the Church&#x27;s work across the world.</p><p>People at the vigil heard from a South African former choirboy who was assaulted by a priest when he was just 11.</p><p>The victim denounced a lack of transparency and responsibility in and by the Church that he said had shaken the faith of millions of people.</p><p>&quot;We are here as beggars of the Father&#x27;s mercy, asking for forgiveness,&quot; Francis said.</p><p>&quot;How could we be credible in our mission if we do not acknowledge our mistakes and stoop to heal the wounds we have caused by our sins?&quot; he added.</p><p>Seven cardinals echoed the pope&#x27;s words, among them Sean O&#x27;Malley, until recently archbishop of the US city of Boston, who expressed his &quot;shame&quot; for &quot;abuses that have stolen innocence&quot;.</p><p>The assembly process was launched by Pope Paul VI in 1965. Last year&#x27;s meeting was the first time women were allowed to vote.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3IfCvGXEX4k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Pope Francis launched fresh consultations Wednesday on the future of the Roman Catholic Church, which faces pressure over the role of women and the ongoing scourge of clerical child abuse.</p>

Pope Francis launched fresh consultations Wednesday on the future of the Roman Catholic Church, which faces pressure over the role of women and the ongoing scourge of clerical child abuse.

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Pope opens new debates on Catholic Church's future

Pope opens new debates on Catholic Church's future

Agence France-Presse,

Clément Melki

Published Oct 03, 2024 01:53 AM PHT

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