To those who thought that he was going to overturn the Church’s doctrine on admission to the sacraments for the civilly divorced and remarried, Pope Francis responded that “all doors are open, but we cannot say they can receive Communion. It would be a wound to marriage.” To those who thought that the joint [...]

Pope Francis’ approach to diplomatic issues is pragmatic and is aimed at achieving immediate outcomes that are less attentive to theological issues. He pursues a diplomacy of prayer, of the Holy Door, of mercy, but also a diplomacy with doctrinal-theological concessions, all in the interest of the “culture of the encounter” [...]

The Council of Cardinals will meet again February 8 – 9. Pope Francis appointed the Council to advise him on the Church’s government and on a possible reform of the Curia. But this time, more than on past occasions, the meeting encounters a certain disinterest. No one has written about it, and the cardinals [...]

One of Pope Francis’ main tasks is that of “going toward peripheries,” not only the “geographical ones,” but especially “the existential ones”. He made this clear in the speech he delivered during the pre-conclave meetings that gained him the necessary votes in the Conclave. And he has never tired of restating this goal [...]

“Realities are more important than ideas.” This is one of the four principles Pope Francis lists in “Evangelii Gaudium,” the apostolic exhortation that represents a sort of program for his pontificate. This principle will perhaps be put into practice in the upcoming months, in another apostolic exhortation, the second by Pope Francis. [...]

The address Pope Francis delivered to the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See has perhaps marked his definitive change of pace. The speech was characterized by a strong diplomatic approach, and provided a sort of agenda. As observers noted, this agenda, which the Pope made available to every government, entails a [...]

It was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the papal Secretary of State, who proposed the most important reform of the Secretariat of State in a speech delivered at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Parolin proposed the establishment of an “office for mediation” within the Secretariat of State, as had already happened in the past. The office [...]

The approach of the highly-anticipated publication of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation that concludes the two Synods on the family may result in discussion focusing on an important topic. This topic is often overshadowed, though it is disturbing: how much has the Protestant Reformation had, and how much does it still have, an impact [...]

Reforms will be accomplished. Pope Francis reiterated this point once again while meeting the members of the Roman Curia for Christmas greetings. The meeting was noteworthy because several “curiali” were absent, so many that Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, had to acknowledge the fact publicly. Is this a signal [...]

On the one hand, a well-defined international profile. On the other hand, particular attention to internal affairs, with a stronger Secretariat of State. The discussion over the Vatican’s ongoing reforms swings between these two poles. At the moment a definitive vision seems to be lacking.

It is worthwhile reporting the latest on Vatican reforms [...]