Proposed synod on married priests ‘was voted down by Pope’s advisers’

The topic of the next synod has been announced as “Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment”, according to a Vatican statement released today.

But according to one respected Vatican journalist, the synod – a meeting of bishops which will take place in 2018 – was nearly dedicated to a different theme: priestly celibacy.

Edward Pentin, Vatican correspondent of the National Catholic Register, reported that Pope Francis was “known to be keen” for the next synod to examine “priestly celibacy and a possible push to allow married priests”.