Pope Francis opened a global Catholic summit on Wednesday with a warning that delegates should not seek to foist pet agendas onto the assembly, an apparent attempt to prevent discussions bogging down in divisive issues such as women's ordination.

Pope Francis is asking forgiveness for host of sins on the eve of the next phase of his big reform project ROME — Pope Francis launched the second phase of his big Catholic reform project Tuesday by asking forgiveness for a host of sins,

Pope Francis opened the second phase of his big Catholic reform project Wednesday, with widespread calls for women to take up more positions of responsibility in the church topping the agenda but ordained ministry still ruled out.

We are only allowed to look down on a person to help them get up,’ Pope Francis told young people at the penitential ceremony.