Pope Francis penned requests for forgiveness, which were read by the most influential clerics at the Vatican, listing the church’s sins against peace, against the poor, the environment, women, abuse survivors and young people. They also asked forgiveness for using doctrine as a tool of exclusion and not welcoming dialogue.

During the penitential celebration on the eve of the Synod on Synodality, confessions and testimonies were shared by bishops, religious, and laypeople.

We are only allowed to look down on a person to help them get up,’ Pope Francis told young people at the penitential ceremony.

Vermont’s Catholic church has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces more than 30 lawsuits alleging child sex abuse by clergy decades ago.

The state’s largest religious denomination is seeking an emergency order for permission to keep paying staff as a court is set to hold its first hearing on a church plan to reorganize finances depleted by child abuse claims.