The Pope held the general audience in St. Peter's Square Photo: Vatican Media

For the Time Being, Pope Francis Will Not Appoint the Vicar for Rome, the Diocese of Which He Is Bishop

The Holy Father said that, due to the delicacy of the office of the Cardinal Vicar, he will take time to make a sound discernment about the figure that will take up the post, so, for the time being, it will remain vacant. The Pope encouraged the Auxiliary Bishops, in this transitional phase, to continue with the pastoral ministry and the administrative activities already initiated.

Chinese Government Poses Problems for the Catholic Church in Hong Kong Over the Secret of Confession

Given that Chinese Catholics can commit crimes during protests or actions related to the Hong Kong Authority and confess them in the Sacrament of Penance, priests could be accused of crimes against the Law of sedition, if they don’t reveal knowledge of these actions, which the secrecy of the Sacrament impedes them from violating. Under the banner of “National Security,” henceforth the Hong Kong police will be able to carry out any intervention against a priest.