VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis launched fresh consultations on Wednesday on the future of the Roman Catholic Church. The General Assembly of the Synod, comprising 368 religious and lay people from around 100 countries, will hold closed-door debates at the Vatican until October 27. It is a personal project of the pope, 87, who will have the final say on any doctrinal changes that ensue.
Launching the assembly with a mass in St Peter's Square on Wednesday morning, Francis urged participants to enter the discussions with an open mind. "Let us be careful not to see our contributions as points to defend at all costs or agendas to be imposed," he said, warning of the risk of "locking ourselves into dialogues among the deaf". He added that the meeting was "not a parliamentary assembly, but rather a place of listening in communion". — AFP
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