Since the end of the Oct. 5-19 Synod of Bishops on the family, news outlets have portrayed the outcome as a "setback" or "loss" for Pope Francis -- even a "rebuke" to him.

Today’s General Audience was dedicated to the Church as a “visible reality”: We are all sinners and it is right that this should provoke displeasure in us, especially when we set a bad example. But the Church can represent Jesus. The Pope also sent out an appeal against the Ebola virus.

iacopo scaramuzzi
Vatican City

The questions presented by the Western media as relevant to the debate of the Synod on the family that has just finished, such as the re-admittance of divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to the sacraments and homosexual relationships, are not a subject of discussion in Lebanon. In the Middle East the family has other priorities: above all, survival.

Jocelyne Khoueiry, director of the John Paul II Center, was interviewed to shed light on this issue:

Basima al-Safar retouches a picture of Jesus on an easel outside her house overlooking the flat Nineveh plains, 30 miles north of Mosul.

The murals she paints tell the story of her people, Christians in Iraq. But with Islamic State militants nearby, she is worried that life in Alqosh and towns like it could soon come to an end.

At this Mass in St. Martha’s House,on October 24, the Pope encouraged people to follow the same path as Jesus: He "became weak" to death on the Cross. "Pride and self-sufficiency are useless".

Working to ensure the unity of the Church is the historic task of every Christian. This was the message at the heart of Francis’ homily pronounced in St. Martha’s House this morning. We must allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit, the Pope emphasized. It is the Holy Spirit that brings unity through diversity in the Church.

Today Francis receivedtoday, October 23, a delegation from the international association of delegates from the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP) and gave a long and detailed lecture-like speech discussing cases of abuse and problems affecting many corners of the world, without mentioning individual cases. He defined life imprisonment as a hidden death sentence (emphasizing that these kinds of sentences no longer exist in the Vatican).

During the Consistory presided by Pope Francis, the Vatican Secretary of State discussed the dramatic situation in the Middle East, urging patriarchs to avoid seeking the protection of military leaders and encouraging respectful dialogue with Islam. Francis pointed out that Christians are being persecuted amid the indifference of many.

“Vatican Insider” interviews the Archbishop of Manila: “The issue is mentioned in the final Synod document. The Synod is not a battle. In the Philippines people separate out of love for their children.

The paragraph of the text which outlines the differing opinions regarding the readmission of remarried divorcees to the sacraments obtained 104 votes in favour and 74 against. The paragraph on homosexuality has been modified after 118 Synod Fathers voted in favour and 62 against, despite the fact it makes reference to the Catechism. These points did not therefore receive the unanimous consensus of the Synod: An absolute majority was obtained but not a qualifying majority.

Bishops are to continue to reflect on the issue of remarried divorcees. Governments should do more to promote the rights of families the Synod said, ahead of the publication of the “relatio synodi” this afternoon

“Christ wanted his Church to be a house with doors always open to welcome everyone,” without leaving anyone out. Hence bishops are called to “accompany couples and families and care for their personal and social wounds.” The message, which was approved by the Synod Fathers, illustrates the “challenges” of family pastoral care, including “the hardships of existence”.