Don't treat divorced Catholics as outcasts, Pope tells priests
Pope Francis told priests on Wednesday to be more merciful to Catholics who have divorced and remarried outside the Church, saying they should not be treated as if they had been excommunicated.
The delicate subject of how the 1.2-billion-member Church should treat divorced Catholics will be a major issue at a meeting of world bishops at the Vatican in October.
Current Church teaching says such Catholics cannot receive communion unless they abstain from sexual relations because their first marriage is still valid in the eyes of the Church.
Progressive bishops have been pushing for change and Francis has been dropping hints that he too favours more accommodation and wants the synod to come up with proposals.
Speaking at his general audience, Francis said it was urgent that the Church develop ways to offer a "real welcome" to Catholics who have found happiness in a second marriage after their first ones failed.
