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The best in Catholic news from across the Archdiocese of Perth
Breaking down the Synod Secretariat’s ‘Pathways’ Document: What You Need to Know
The “Pathways” document, structured into four chapters, aims to provide an interpretive guide for the implementation phase of the synodal process.
Habemus Papam: Cardinals Elect New Pope Amid Historic Conclave in Sistine Chapel
On 7–8 May 2025, 133 cardinal electors convened in the Sistine Chapel for a historic conclave to elect the 267th pope. Following sacred rites and solemn prayers, black smoke on the first day signalled no decision, but by the second evening, white smoke and ringing bells announced: Habemus Papam — we have a pope.
Path to Christian unity must be a pathway to a deeper encounter with Christ, says Archbishop Costelloe
Promulgated by the now Saint Pope John XXIII on 21 November 1964, Unitatis Redintegratio – Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism – brought the Catholic Church into the ecumenical movement as a key player by signalling unqualified commitment to the search for Christian unity.
Synod calls for quick steps to involve more people in church life
Members voted on each of the 155 paragraphs of the document, which made suggestions and requests to Pope Francis that included long-term projects, such as the hope that more lay people would be involved in the selection of bishops.
Stop and read: Pope praises spiritual value of literature and poetry
Every Christian, but especially seminarians, should set aside their screens regularly and spend time with a book of literature or poetry, Pope Francis has said.
Faith, hope, love are antidote to pride, Pope Francis says at audience
The cardinal virtues were espoused and promoted by ancient philosophers well before the development of Christianity, the Holy Father said.
SPECIAL REPORT: Vatican says abortion, surrogacy, war, poverty are attacks on human dignity
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s latest document on human dignity highlights Pope Francis’ decade-long insistence that every human being – independent of their circumstances, stage of development or state of sin – possesses infinite and inalienable dignity that must be respected and protected.
St Thérèse teaches simplicity, love, trust, says Pope Francis
Although she died at the age of 24 in a cloistered convent, her passion for sharing the Gospel through her prayers and example led Pope Pius XI to declare her patroness of the missions in 1927, and her writings led St John Paul II to proclaim her a doctor of the church in 1997
WALKING TOGETHER: Archbishop Tim’s Weekly Thoughts on Reflection from the Synod [Week 3]
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Friday 13 October, 2023
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As I write this third “Letter from Rome” on a warm Thursday afternoon, here in the Vatican we are approaching the end of our first full week of work in the Synod.
Last week, following the Opening Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, the Synod members began to explore the deeper understanding of synodality, t...
Vatican offers details on how synod will work, media access
The news conference with updates about the synod — how it will work and what reporters can expect — came just a few days after Pope Francis had told journalists aboard his flight from Mongolia that the discussions at the assembly of the Synod of Bishops 4 to 29 October will not be open to the public or to reporters to “safeguard the synodal climate.”
