Doubling down on the centrality of synodality in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said that it is now up to local churches to accept and implement proposals from the final document approved the Synod of Bishops on synodality.

Using what the Vatican called an “equipollent” or equivalent beatification, Pope Francis recognized as “blessed” a 15th-century Spanish abbess, mystic and preacher.

Churches and faith groups across the United Kingdom have condemned a bill to allow physician-assisted suicide and stepped up efforts to block its Nov. 29 approval by parliamentarians.

The “arrogance” of the invaders attacking Ukraine and Palestine blocks the dialogue necessary to build peace in those countries, Pope Francis said.

Clergy in Belarus are deleting their social media profiles to avoid arrest, according to church sources, as local parishes face pressure under a new religious law.

When Catholics approach a church tribunal or canon lawyer, they “must always meet the face of our mother, the holy church, who loves all her children with tenderness,” Pope Francis said.

A tour of a relic of St. Jude conducted by Father Carlos Martins, a priest with the Companions of the Cross order known for hosting “The Exorcist Files” podcast, was halted Nov. 21 following an alleged “incident” involving students, according to a statement from Queen of Apostles Church in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois and from the diocese.

While world events can seem chaotic, violent and out of control, Christians can be certain that “everything is ultimately subject to the judgment of Christ, the just and merciful king,” Pope Francis said at Mass.

Established in 1997 as a private association of the faithful, the Dead Theologians Society (the name of which is a spin on the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society,” in which a teacher galvanizes his students through poetry) is open to teens in grades 9-12, as well as young adults age 18-24, with the two age groups meeting separately under adult leadership.

The faithful will have an opportunity the weekend of Dec. 7-8 to support the more than 20,000 elderly religious sisters, brothers and religious order priests who have devoted their lives to service in the Catholic Church through an annual collection benefiting retired religious across the United States.