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France’s Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of synod of bishops, is first woman to hold the rank which gives voting rightsBreaking with tradition, Pope Francis has appointed Frenchwoman Nathalie Becquart as an undersecretary of the synod of bishops, the first woman to hold the post and have voting rights.The 52-year-old is one of the two new undersecretaries named to the synod, the body of bishops that...

Pope Francis strays from his prepared text to repeat his frequent complaint about gossiping within church communities and even within the Vatican bureaucracy. Francis did not give specifics during his weekly blessing, but went on at some length to say the devil is the 'biggest gossiper' who is seeking to divide the church with his liesPope Francis says gossip is 'a plague worse than...

Former Labour minister Ruth Kelly is among the women who will oversee Vatican finances and address its cashflow problemsPope Francis has appointed six women to oversee the Vatican’s finances including Ruth Kelly, the former Labour minister, in the most senior roles ever given to women within the Catholic church’s leadership.The appointments mark the most significant step by Francis to fulfil his promise of placing...