Pope Wants Vatican Meeting Behind Closed Doors

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis defended the decision to keep the discussions of a big Vatican meeting on the future of the Catholic Church behind closed doors. He says the three-week conference was a religious moment for the church and “not a television program” that was open to scrutiny.

Francis was asked repeatedly on his way home from Mongolia about the Oct. 4 through 29th meeting, which is opening after an unprecedented two-year canvassing of rank-and-file Catholics around the globe about their hopes for the church.

The official agenda includes hot-button issues such as the role of women in decision-making, the acceptance of lgbtq+ catholics, and celibacy for priests.