Federico Lombardi, SJ

We should be grateful to Anne-Marie Pelletier for her recent book L’Église, des femmes avec des hommes, which collects and develops several lines of reflection on the relationship between women and men in the Church that she had already initiated in previous writings.[1] This issue is topical and of crucial importance. After all, the popes… Read the full article

The Holy Father’s decision to exclude accusations, trials and decisions regarding sexual abuse committed within the Church from the “pontifical secret” was published on December 17, 2019. The decision resonated widely and many people have hailed it as a very important step forward – some have even called it historic – in the fight against… Read the full article

Just over a year ago, on September 22, 2018, an Agreement was signed between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Despite its temporary nature, its importance is such that it has attracted much comment, and it has already become the focus of in-depth study. One recent publication edited by two sinologists… Read the full article

The meeting “Child Protection in the Church” called by Pope Francis took place from February 21-24, 2019, with the participation of some 190 people in the New Synod Hall in Vatican City.[1] Two liturgical celebrations took place in the Sala Regia of the Apostolic Palace, duly prepared to host the penitential liturgy on the Saturday… Read the full article

We have attempted to offer a summary outline of the sexual abuse crisis by members of the clergy in the Catholic Church in two previous articles.[1] These looked at some orientations to respond to this problem, which will be at the core of a Vatican Meeting for Bishops, February 21-24, 2019. This third contribution aims at… Read the full article

In an earlier article I gave an overview of the main stages of the clerical sex abuse crisis and the response from the Church during recent pontificates.[1] Now I wish to present some examples of local documents and on-the-ground initiatives. This will help gain a better understanding of the lines along which the response of… Read the full article

The meeting and the start of its preparations Faced with widespread and growing discomfort following new reports and revelations of very serious cases of sexual abuse involving members of the clergy, on September 12, 2018, at the end of one of the meetings of the Council of Cardinals – at the time the so-called C9… Read the full article

Relations between the Holy See and China since the 19th century have seen changing fortunes: from the Opium Wars to the French protectorate over missions in China, from the dramatic Boxer Rebellion to diplomatic relations being established, from the rise to power of Mao Zedong to the reforms of the new regime, up to the… Read the full article