Junno Arocho Esteves

Bishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán said that before considering the proposal from some members of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon to ordain women deacons and married viri probati, or men of proven virtue, the current "model of the church, which is too hierarchal, must change."

Lay men and women involved in ministry have been fundamental in spreading the Gospel and furthering the Catholic Church's mission in the Amazon, a Brazilian bishop said.

Synod members called for the Catholic Church to deepen its theology in a way that would help people recognize "ecological sins."

Pope Francis named Spanish Archbishop Alberto Ortega Martin as the new apostolic nuncio to Chile, the Vatican announced.

A person who claims to preach the Gospel by convincing people of their beliefs in Jesus is not evangelizing, but proselytizing, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis appointed the former archbishop of Aparecida, Brazil, to oversee the spiritual life of a controversial religious association in the South American country.

Christians have a moral obligation to show God's care for all those who are marginalized, especially migrants and refugees, Pope Francis said.

The act of bearing false witness to destroy someone is an attack against the body of the church, Pope Francis said.

The international community must ramp up its efforts if it expects to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, Pope Francis said.

The Synod of Bishops for the Amazon will help the Catholic Church make its presence felt and voice heard in a region that is dangerously approaching "a point of no return," said the special secretaries of the synod.

Colombian Cardinal Jose de Jesus Pimiento Rodriguez, who participated in the Second Vatican Council, died at the age of 100.

People who race to get top positions often feel superior to others, an attitude that destroys the possibility for fellowship and communion, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis appointed an aide who served as his English interpreter and the former prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication to new posts.

Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, former prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches and a longtime Vatican diplomat, died at the age of 95.

While listening to and obeying God's word brings healing and comfort to those in need, it also can attract disdain and even hatred from others, Pope Francis said.

A life marked by humility, faith and love determines whether Christians enter heaven, not who they know, Pope Francis said.

The apostolic nunciature in Chile announced that the Vatican has opened an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against retired Archbishop Bernardino Pinera Carvallo of La Serena, who is the uncle of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

Christians who focus more on being superficially close to the church rather than care for their fellow brothers and sisters are like tourists who wander around aimlessly, Pope Francis said.

Francis Chronicles: Popular movements can spark the change needed to ensure a future that is no longer in the hands of elites and powerful people, but includes the poor who have the inalienable right to a life of dignity, Pope Francis said.

In hopeless situations of pain and suffering, God never abandons his children but rather remains close to them, Pope Francis said.