Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem united in a call for peace and justice amid unfolding violence, following a surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel, which has left over 700 Israelis dead, among them civilians and dozens of soldiers and police who were killed battling the Hamas fighters.
The synod on synodality is not geared to “resolve particular problems” in the Catholic Church, such as the blessing of same-sex unions or women’s ordination, but to explore ways for the church to discuss and address such issues, a cardinal said.
The pope released his new apostolic exhortation “Laudate Deum” (“Praise God”) Oct. 4 as a follow-up to his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.” The exhortation’s publication coincided with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron of ecology, whose famous canticle inspired the title of “Laudato Si’.”
Pope Francis opened the work of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops asking members to meditate on ancient theological texts about the Holy Spirit, have the courage to be honest about their disagreements and focus much more on listening than on sharing their opinions.
Photos featured this week include a conference about Pope Francis’ document on the climate crisis “Laudate Deum,” the opening of the synod in Rome and new Cardinal Christophe Pierre, nuncio to the United States.
Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso urged bipartisan support for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, with which the U.S. bishops partner in resettlement efforts through their Migration and Refugee Services initiatives.
Competing notions of authority and giving certain Christian truths preeminence over others can not only derail the Synod assembly, but also, cripple the church’s ability to share Christ with the world.
Members of the close-knit community of Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina are coming together, in faith, in the wake of the firestorm on Maui.
