Ep. 10 - Inside the Vatican's synod office

Xavière Sr. Nathalie Becquart is one of the main organizers of Pope Francis' Synod of Bishops, a two-part summit about the very future of the Catholic Church. She says the pope is creating "a new style of leadership" for the global faith. In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua McElwee and Christopher White interview Becquart inside the Vatican's office for the Synod of Bishops. Becquart discussed in particular the synod's consideration of women's leadership in the church. She said the pope and the synod are looking for "ways to move, to go forward, to have more and more women in leadership." Also in this episode, McElwee and White discuss the continuing impact of Pope Francis' landmark decision to allow Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, and the pontiff's meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, who has been a vocal – and sometimes profane – critic of Francis. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. Relevant links: Catholic News Service coverage on the note from the Vatican's doctrinal office about the validity of Catholic sacraments: Changing words in sacraments can make them invalid, Vatican's doctrinal office warns Catholic News Service coverage of Pope Francis' latest defense of his same-sex blessings decree: Pope blasts 'hypocrisy' of those who bless businesses, but not gay couples Christopher White's column about Pope Francis' encounter with Argentine President Javier Milei: From 'imbecile' to 'Your Holiness': Pope, Argentine president to meet Joshua McElwee and Christopher White's reporting on the end of the 2023 Synod of Bishops: Pope's major Vatican summit ends without action on women deacons, mention of LGBTQ Catholics A Religion News Service profile of Becquart: Meet Sr. Nathalie Becquart, the woman who is helping reshape the Catholic Church Aleja Hertzler-McCain's reporting on the consultations before the 2024 synod assembly: US bishops asked to hold listening sessions ahead of 2024 synod assembly The December 2023 guidance from the Vatican's synod office: Towards October 2024