AP Writer

Nicole Winfield

An unprecedented global canvassing of Catholics has called for the church to take concrete steps to promote women to decision-making roles. It's also asking for a 'radical inclusion' of the LGBTQ+ community and for new accountability measures to check how bishops exercise authority. The Vatican on Tuesday released the synthesis of a two-year consultation process. It has published a working document that will form the basis of discussion for a big meeting of bishops and laypeople in October. The synod, as it is known, is a key priority of Pope Francis, reflecting his vision of a church that is more about the faithful rank-and-file than its priests.

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Vatican document highlights need for concrete steps for women, ‘radical inclusion’ of LGBTQ+

June 20, 2023 at 10:49 a.m.

An unprecedented global canvassing of Catholics has called for the church to take concrete steps to promote women to decision-making roles. It's also asking for a 'radical inclusion' of the...

No stranger to plagues, Venice opens film fest with caution

September 1, 2021 at 6:53 p.m.

VENICE (AP) — Visitors to Venice could be forgiven for not realizing that beyond the majesty of St. Mark's Square and the romance of gondola rides lies a city that...

Venice a shell of itself as tourists flee virus

March 5, 2020 at 5:45 p.m.

Venice in the time of coronavirus, though, is a shell of itself, with empty piazzas, shuttered basilicas and gondoliers idling their days away. The cholera epidemic that raged quietly through...

Pope: Abortion is never OK, equates it to “hiring a hitman”

July 26, 2019 at 11:54 a.m.

VATICAN CITY Pope Francis said Saturday that abortion can never be condoned, even when the fetus is gravely sick or likely to die, and urged doctors and priests to support...

Pope Francis says death penalty is now “inadmissible,” changing Catholic Church teaching

August 2, 2019 at 5:25 p.m.

VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has changed church teaching about the death penalty, saying in a new policy published Thursday that it is always "inadmissible" because it "attacks" the inherent dignity...

Pope says Trump “is not Christian” if he wants border walls

August 3, 2019 at 9:18 p.m.

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE Pope Francis said Thursday that Donald Trump is "not Christian" if he intends to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. Trump immediately fired back, saying...

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