In an interview, Pope Francis hinted at the possibility of lifting priestly celibacy. He said the tradition is a "temporal prescription". Could the "reformist" Pope change the thousand-year-old tradition? Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas: Pope Francis hints celibacy could be reviewed

Pope Francis, current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church has encouraged his followers to give up trolling for Lent in his Ash Wednesday speech, news agencies reported.

Essentially, the religious leader, in his speech, told every follower to do anything besides be perpetually being online.&nbsp;

Pope Francis called on Catholics to “give up useless words, gossip, rumours, tittle-tattle and speak to God on a first name basis” in remarks on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the 40-day repentance period in which Catholics traditionally put aside something pleasurable.

"We live in an atmosphere polluted by too much verbal violence, too many offensive and harmful words, which are amplified by the internet," he said. "Today, people insult each other as if they were saying 'Good Day.'

Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, before Easter Sunday.

Pope Francis, current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church has encouraged his followers to give up trolling for Lent in his Ash Wednesday speech, news agencies reported.

Pope Francis, current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church has encouraged his followers to give up trolling for Lent in his Ash Wednesday speech, news agencies reported. Essentially, the religious leader, in his speech, told every follower to do anything besides be perpetually being online. Pope Francis called on Catholics to “give up useless words, gossip, rumours, tittle-tattle and speak to God on a first name basis” in remarks on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the 40-day repentance period in which Catholics traditionally put aside something pleasurable. "We live in an atmosphere polluted by too much verbal violence, too many offensive and harmful words, which are amplified by the internet," he said. "Today, people insult each other as if they were saying 'Good Day.' Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, before Easter Sunday.

Give up social media trolling for Lent, Pope Francis urges followers

In a significant decision, Pope Francis has dismissed the proposal to allow married priests in the Amazon region.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-voices-outrage-over-amazon-basin-exploitation-280326">Pope voices 'outrage' over Amazon basin exploitation</a>

The proposal to allow married priests was put forward by Latin American bishops last year to address the shortage of Catholic priests in the Amazon region.

The bishops backed the measure last year, but the decision needed the Pope's approval for implementation.&nbsp;Last year, Pope Francis had called for "bold proposals" to meet the spiritual needs of Catholics in the Amazon.

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But in the new papal document released today, Pope Francis has ignored the boldest proposal "allowing married priests".

Pope's highly anticipated document on the Amazon region, Querida Amazonia which means beloved Amazon is finally out and it focuses mostly on cultural and environmental issues.

The lack of an opening for married priests, or women deacons, is expected to disappoint the Pope's liberal supporters, particularly in the American and European continent.

Instead of structural reforms, the amazon document is filled with flowery language, including the Pope's prose poem of his "dreams" for the Amazon.

Catholic priests are required to abide by the rule of celibacy upon ordination. Celibacy is seen as the devotion of one's life to God. 
Another rejected bold proposal from the synod participants was allowing women to be ordained as deacons.

This, too, would have been a revolutionary change for the Catholic church.&nbsp;Deacons are considered part of ordained ministry, much like priests.

If the Pope had allowed women to be ordained deacons, it would be one step closer to ordaining them as priests.

Instead, Francis has called this suggestion "narrow" and one that would "clericalise" women by trying to give them the same function as men instead of recognizing their specific female gifts.

In a significant decision, Pope Francis has dismissed the proposal to allow married priests in the Amazon region. Also read: Pope voices 'outrage' over Amazon basin exploitation The proposal to allow married priests was put forward by Latin American bishops last year to address the shortage of Catholic priests in the Amazon region.

In a significant decision, Pope Francis has dismissed the proposal to allow married priests in the Amazon region. Also read: Pope voices 'outrage' over Amazon basin exploitation The proposal to allow married priests was put forward by Latin American bishops last year to address the shortage of Catholic priests in the Amazon region. The bishops backed the measure last year, but the decision needed the Pope's approval for implementation. Last year, Pope Francis had called for "bold proposals" to meet the spiritual needs of Catholics in the Amazon. × But in the new papal document released today, Pope Francis has ignored the boldest proposal "allowing married priests". Pope's highly anticipated document on the Amazon region, Querida Amazonia which means beloved Amazon is finally out and it focuses mostly on cultural and environmental issues. The lack of an opening for married priests, or women deacons, is expected to disappoint the Pope's liberal supporters, particularly in the American and European continent. Instead of structural reforms, the amazon document is filled with flowery language, including the Pope's prose poem of his "dreams" for the Amazon. Catholic priests are required to abide by the rule of celibacy upon ordination. Celibacy is seen as the devotion of one's life to God. Another rejected bold proposal from the synod participants was allowing women to be ordained as deacons. This, too, would have been a revolutionary change for the Catholic church. Deacons are considered part of ordained ministry, much like priests. If the Pope had allowed women to be ordained deacons, it would be one step closer to ordaining them as priests. Instead, Francis has called this suggestion "narrow" and one that would "clericalise" women by trying to give them the same function as men instead of recognizing their specific female gifts.

Pope Francis refuses to allow married priests in Amazon

Former Pope Benedict, in a new book written with a conservative cardinal, defends priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church in what appears to be a strategically timed appeal to Pope Francis to not change the rules.

Benedict wrote the book, "From the Depths of Our Hearts," with Cardinal Robert Sarah, 74, a Guinean prelate who heads the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-lifts-pontifical-secrecy-in-child-sex-abuse-cases-vatican-268762">Pope Francis lifts pontifical secrecy in child sex abuse cases: Vatican</a>

Excerpts were published on Sunday on the website of the French newspaper Le Figaro. The Vatican had no immediate comment on the book, which is due to be published on Monday.

In October, the final document of an assembly of Roman Catholic bishops, or synod, from the Amazon proposed that married men in the remote area be allowed to be ordained priests, which could lead to a landmark change in the Church’s centuries-old discipline of celibacy.

Pope Francis will consider it, along with many other proposals on issues that emerged during the synod, including the environment and the role of women, in a document of his own, known as an Apostolic Exhortation. It is expected to be issued in the next few months.

In 2013, when he became the first pope in 700 years to resign, Benedict, who lives in the Vatican and is now 92 and in failing health, vowed to remain "hidden from the world".

But he has given interviews, written articles and contributed to books, in effect breaking that pledge and cheering conservatives, some of whom do not recognise Francis' legitimacy.

Massimo Faggioli, a theologian at Villanova University in the United States, called it "a serious breach" by the former pope, who vowed "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor.

In his part of the book, Benedict says celibacy, which became a stable tradition in the Church only about 1,000 years ago, carries "great significance" because it allows a priest to concentrate on his vocation. He says "it doesn't seem possible to realise both vocations (priesthood and 
marriage) simultaneously."

In a joint introduction, both men say they could not remain silent about the October synod, which at times led to clashes between progressive and conservative Catholic media outlets, underscoring the polarisation in the 1.3 billion-member Church.

The proposal calls for older married men who are already deacons in the Church, have a stable family relationship and are proven leaders in their communities to be ordained as priests after adequate formation.

This solution to the shortage of priests, backed by many South American bishops, would allow Catholics in isolated areas to attend Mass and receive the sacraments more regularly.

For his part, Sarah says making exceptions to the celibacy rule would be "a lie" that would set a dangerous precedent.

Former Pope Benedict, in a new book written with a conservative cardinal, defends priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church in what appears to be a strategically timed appeal to Pope Francis to not change the rules.

Former Pope Benedict, in a new book written with a conservative cardinal, defends priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church in what appears to be a strategically timed appeal to Pope Francis to not change the rules. Benedict wrote the book, "From the Depths of Our Hearts," with Cardinal Robert Sarah, 74, a Guinean prelate who heads the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Also read: Pope Francis lifts pontifical secrecy in child sex abuse cases: Vatican Excerpts were published on Sunday on the website of the French newspaper Le Figaro. The Vatican had no immediate comment on the book, which is due to be published on Monday. In October, the final document of an assembly of Roman Catholic bishops, or synod, from the Amazon proposed that married men in the remote area be allowed to be ordained priests, which could lead to a landmark change in the Church’s centuries-old discipline of celibacy. Pope Francis will consider it, along with many other proposals on issues that emerged during the synod, including the environment and the role of women, in a document of his own, known as an Apostolic Exhortation. It is expected to be issued in the next few months. In 2013, when he became the first pope in 700 years to resign, Benedict, who lives in the Vatican and is now 92 and in failing health, vowed to remain "hidden from the world". But he has given interviews, written articles and contributed to books, in effect breaking that pledge and cheering conservatives, some of whom do not recognise Francis' legitimacy. Massimo Faggioli, a theologian at Villanova University in the United States, called it "a serious breach" by the former pope, who vowed "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor. In his part of the book, Benedict says celibacy, which became a stable tradition in the Church only about 1,000 years ago, carries "great significance" because it allows a priest to concentrate on his vocation. He says "it doesn't seem possible to realise both vocations (priesthood and marriage) simultaneously." In a joint introduction, both men say they could not remain silent about the October synod, which at times led to clashes between progressive and conservative Catholic media outlets, underscoring the polarisation in the 1.3 billion-member Church. The proposal calls for older married men who are already deacons in the Church, have a stable family relationship and are proven leaders in their communities to be ordained as priests after adequate formation. This solution to the shortage of priests, backed by many South American bishops, would allow Catholics in isolated areas to attend Mass and receive the sacraments more regularly. For his part, Sarah says making exceptions to the celibacy rule would be "a lie" that would set a dangerous precedent.

Former Pope Benedict breaks silence on celibacy debate after synod

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