VATICAN CITY (AP) — 'A living church can look back on history and acknowledge a fair share of male authoritarianism, domination, various forms of enslavement, abuse and sexist violence,' Francis said.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Bishops acknowledged they need to update their understanding of the science of sex and gender, and that means updating the church’s theology on sexuality.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The synod's report deals with a host of issues of concern to young people: treatment of women in society and in the church, the church’s attitude toward LGBT members, clerical sex abuse, warfare, poverty, migration, human trafficking and corruption. But the work must continue in local churches.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The language on the clergy abuse crisis was watered down, but the monthlong synod was a victory for Pope Francis in his efforts to reform the Catholic Church.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — To change the narrative of scandal, the millennials say, the bishops must keep the conversation going, not just with young Catholics but with those alienated from religion as well.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The Catholic bishops of the U.S. announced Tuesday (Oct. 23) that at the behest of Pope Francis they will meet for a weeklong retreat in Chicago in January.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — One of the buzzwords at the synod of Catholic bishops on young people is “listening.” In the film “Casablanca,” a kiss may be just a kiss, but in the Catholic Church, listening is never just listening. The bishops, who were called to Rome for this monthlong meeting to discuss the church’s outreach to the young, have been urged by Pope Francis to listen to one another and especially to young people. The meeting, which began Oct. 3 and concludes Sunday (Oct. 28), is made up of 267 prelates and the 72 auditors, of whom about 30 are young people.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — It is hard for a synod to compete with a cardinal's resignation, a defense of the pope against his attacker and an invitation from North Korea's dictator.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The pope's words came during his homily at the opening Mass for the Synod of Bishops on Young People before a large crowd in St. Peter's Square.