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In the Heart of Rome, the Pope Becomes Its Citizen

This brief civic homage, a centuries-old tradition, was more than a courtesy stop on the way to the Lateran Basilica. It was, as Mayor Roberto Gualtieri highlighted in his greeting, a visible confirmation of the Pope’s affection for the city he now shepherds. And Rome, the mayor added, “returns that affection with the generous spirit that you have already witnessed in these first days of your pontificate.”

Media pressure on the Pope? Synod Secretary General releases letter to the Pope

The subtext of the letter is difficult to ignore. While couched in deferential language, the message is clear: the Synod Secretariat expects the new pope not only to honor the framework established under Francis, but to actively implement it. “The indications of the Final Document,” they write, “can already be put into practice in local Churches,” as study groups prepare proposals for decisions that “involve the whole Church.”