Pope Francis opens Vatican meeting on the church's future and says 'everyone' is welcome

Taboo subjects such as the ordination of women and the role of LGBTQ congregants will be discussed

Transcript

00:00 On the eve of a Roman Catholic Synod, billed as a break from tradition,

00:06 a conclave of conservative cardinals, the Synodal Babel, gathers in Rome.

00:14 They've written to the Pope about their five doubts or dubias

00:19 that a change in stance on some subjects may fly in the face of Roman Catholic doctrine.

00:24 But they say it's not personal.

00:27 They don't deal with past tenses.

00:32 Their language is very revealing of the mundanity of the vision.

00:38 They don't deal with the person of the Holy Father.

00:42 In fact, by their nature, they are an expression of the veneration

00:51 for the patron saint and successor of St Peter.

00:57 The Vatican Synod is expected to address subjects previously considered taboo,

01:04 such as the ordination of women and the role of LGBTQ congregants.

01:09 There's a potential that the Synod and another next year

01:14 could pave the way for significant reforms in the Church.

01:19 (music)

01:23 (whooshing)