ROME – Pope Francis has said that a change in the Catholic Church's rule on celibacy will not solve difficulties in the Church because the deeper problem is of priests behaving like spinsters instead of fathers.

The Pontiff made his comment in a new wide-ranging interview, in which he confirmed plans to visit to Dubai for a UN climate summit in early December.

The Holy Father also addressed current global conflicts, and weighed in on several hot-button issues touched on during last month’s Synod of Bishops on Synodality, including women’s ordination and priestly celibacy.