Pope Francis Presided Over the Eucharistic Concelebration in Suffrage for Pope Benedict XVI Photo: Vatican News

Pope Francis gives new statutes (and mission) to the Pontifical Academy of Theology

With an Apostolic Letter promulgated on November 1st, Pope Francis updates the statutes of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, providing it with new competences for a fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue. The new Statutes also introduce a new form of collaboration, which involves Referring Interlocutors, scholars from other Christian confessions or religions, who are called to identify and create areas and spaces for dialogue that promote inter- and transdisciplinary discourse.

Rich countries renew abortion prosecution in Africa

The Protocol mandates legalization of abortion on broad grounds, including in cases where the pregnancy is causing mental distress to the mother, and to recognize abortion as a human right. Patrick Djemo, DRC country director at MSI Reproductive Choices, said “There’s literally no circumstance under which a woman can find herself that cannot fit in any of these grounds.”