Cindy Wooden

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Inside, outside: Synod to focus on the church and its role in the world

September 24, 2023
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News

Unlike earlier meetings of the Synod of Bishops, which focused on a specific issue or a specific region of the world, the “synod on synodality” is focused on the church itself: Who belongs? How are leadership and authority exercised? How does the church discern God’s call? How can it fulfill its mandate to share the Gospel with a changing world?

Indiscriminate destruction in Ukraine is a ‘crime,’ pope says

September 22, 2023
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News

In a message to an ecumenical meeting at a historic Benedictine abbey in Hungary, Pope Francis said Russia’s war on Ukraine is a reminder of what the Second Vatican Council taught: “Any act of war aimed indiscriminately at the destruction of entire cities or of extensive areas along with their population is a crime against God and man himself.”

Pope names two Chinese bishops to synod; Vatican publishes synod schedule

September 22, 2023
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News

On the recommendation of the Catholic bishops of mainland China in consultation with the Chinese government, Pope Francis has named two bishops from the country’s mainland as members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Vatican, Lutheran officials call for joint study of Augsburg Confession

September 20, 2023
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

During an ecumenical prayer service at the assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, the Vatican’s chief ecumenist and the federation’s general secretary formally called for a joint reflection on the Augsburg Confession, a fundamental statement of Lutheran faith.

Doctrine is ‘treasure’ that must be defended, cardinal-designate says

September 15, 2023
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

When Pope Francis said he wanted the focus of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to be “something very different” from the dicastery’s reputation as a stringent watchdog, he was not saying anything goes, Cardinal-designate Víctor Fernández, the dicastery’s new prefect, said in an interview.